Community Development Trust won’t be affected by Inverness Caledonian Thistle situation
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Development Trust says it will remain unaffected by the relegation of the club to League One and its financial situation.
It says that it remains committed to delivering activities and initiatives in Inverness and across the Highlands.
The organisation, which is a separate legal entity from the football club, has released a statement today, clarifying its current situation, as uncertainty over the future of Inverness Caledonian Thistle continues.
It clarified that it is an independent charitable trust which was established in 2004 and has been independent from the football club since 2020. It is self funded through grant applications, donations and its football training programmes. It receives no funding from the football club.
The Trust runs football courses for children across the Highlands along with adults courses such as walking football and fitness classes.
It is also runs a Football Memories group providing people a place to come and discuss their football memories along with festive events.
The organisation also works with schools and para-football activities.
A statement from ICT Community Development Trust said while they support the football club, says its current situation will not impact the activities it will deliver.
It said: “It is critical at this time to dispel some unfounded myths and rumours pertaining to the current situation and their impact on the ICT Community Development Trust, its activities and its sustainability.
“Firstly, it is vital to clarify that the ICT Community Development Trust is a separate legal entity from the Football Club; the Community Development Trust is entirely self-funded through ongoing grant applications, donations and our football training programmes.
“ As such, The Community Development Trust does not represent a financial burden upon the Football Club since its launch as a financially independent Charitable Trust in 2020.
“We wholly believe that delivering the ongoing community outreach programmes is more important than ever in these challenging times, not only because the programmes assist those in need today, but also by helping to create the ICTFC fans and players of tomorrow, through our inclusive, accessible and wide-reaching activities across Inverness and the wider region.
“The ICT Community Development Trust remains committed to - and embedded within - the Scottish Highlands.
“We will continue with our community outreach programme unabated, irrespective of decisions made at the Football Club.
“In the past week, for example, we have delivered 36 sessions in 16 different schools across Inverness and beyond. This is in addition to weekly football sessions provided from Monday to Friday for over 300 participants. Furthermore, our growing Para football team represent the Community Development Trust in national competitions.
“Weekly walking football sessions for over 55’s are well-attended and our monthly Football Memories group regularly attracts over 50 participants.
“Our continued involvement in the national initiative called ‘Extra Time’, which provides breakfast and afterschool provision at four Inverness schools in term time and additional holiday provision, has more than doubled the meals that the Community Development Trust deliver into the community this year.
“This summer, we will build on the massive success of our community football programmes for boys and girls of all ages, with more than 20 camps planned across 15 venues around the Highlands from Alness, Wick, Portee, Fort William, Aviemore, Nairn and, of course, Inverness.
“To further bolster our independence and our commitment to the local community, in June 2023 we took on a massive project to restore the former Inverness Royal Academy playing fields to provide a home for the growing Community Development Trust team, with facilities to match the incredible work done.
“We have raised a significant amount of money dedicated to improving grassroots football in Inverness in order to provide more participation opportunities. We anticipate that the new hub will be operational in the New Year.
“The Community Development Trust was reassured by the statement from ICTFC, that the first team will have a presence within our local community and that the team will remain committed to attending events hosted by the Community Development Trust, so as to maintain the crucial link between the players and the supporters.
“Inverness is the ICT Community Development Trust's home and always will be.”
