The publication of the Changing the Boundaries report in 2022 recommended that Cricket Scotland was placed in special measures by sportscotland.
Being placed in special measures means direct scrutiny and frequent checks on an organisation which has fallen short of acceptable standards. Cricket Scotland was placed in special measures by sportscotland after the report highlighted a number of failings by Cricket Scotland.
Having fully accepted all actions and recommendations for improvement, an action plan was created by Cricket Scotland to address these failings. The organisation remained in special measures to allow sportscotland additional scrutiny and to support Cricket Scotland to make improvements.
For clarity, those recommendations associated to special measures as captured in Changing the Boundaries were:
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Complete the Chair, Board and CEO recruitment
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Complete a governance review
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Establish the Anti-racism and EDI Task Force
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Manage all recruitment ensuring it meets good practice principles of inclusive recruitment
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Update all (not just HR) policies and procedures, job descriptions, and review all employment contracts with an anti-racism and EDI lens
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Produce and implement a Learning and Development Plan for all employees
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Develop and implement a disciplinary framework including code of conduct for all off-field incidents
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Recruit an Independent Disciplinary Panel
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Train the Regional Association workforce in the implementation of the new disciplinary framework
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Produce an Anti-racism and EDI strategy
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Develop and deliver an anti-racism, EDI, and cultural awareness education programme for the paid and voluntary workforce
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Develop and implement an EDI data management system
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Produce regular internal and external communications on anti-racism and EDI
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Undertake an annual perception survey and consultation with ethnically and culturally diverse communities, and external stakeholders
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Review all communications to embed anti-racism
Having met the requirements of the action plan, the sportscotland board approved that Cricket Scotland move from special measures to enhanced oversight via our investment process; with specific conditions attached to our investment agreement and managed in line with our monitoring and reporting processes.
Whilst having conditions attached to sportscotland’s investment is not unusual, the conditions placed on Cricket Scotland are the most stringent placed on any governing body. They will allow sportscotland increased oversight to hold Cricket Scotland to account on delivering on them.
The conditions of enhanced oversight are:
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Achieve full compliance with the Standards of Child Well-being and Protection in Sport by 30th November 2024.
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Continue to diversify the board aiming for a minimum of 25% of the total Board makeup being of Black, South-East Asian, or other mixed or multiple ethnic groups.
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Continue to diversify the board aiming for a minimum of 40% men and 40% women.
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Continue to work with the Western District Cricket Union to remove them from Special Measures by 31st December 2024
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Embed the new Scottish Cricket Registration System by 31st December 2024
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Establishing of an online ED&I training platform by 31st March 2025
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Finalise an Anti-racism and EDI strategy by 1st June 2024
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Implement a new Cricket Scotland governance structure by 31st March 2025
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Provide evidence of compliance with player selection policies and good practice
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Provide evidence of compliance with recruitment policy and good practice
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Report on progress against the 245 recommendations from the referral investigations in October 2024 and March 2025
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Satisfactorily complete the Child Well-being and Protection in Sport Health Check by 31 July 2024.
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sportscotland to have standing invite to attend SLT and board meetings.
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Undertake an annual perception survey and consultation by 31st March 2025
We recognise the recent progress that has been made and are committed to providing continued support to Cricket Scotland to ensure that all of the conditions are met, and the sport can move forward with confidence.
Forbes Dunlop
Chief Executive, sportscotland