Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC is enhancing the club’s involvement in the community after winning £150,000 backing towards a £450,000 development project.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has awarded the football club the cash to go towards a Community Development Foundation charity it has set up.
The charity has five directors who are working towards growing the club’s involvement in the community through greater engagement with schools and community groups across the city.
It aims to increase services to the young and old, through school visits, after-school activities, football festivals, holiday courses, walking football and football memory sessions.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Development (ICTCD) chairman Ross Morrison said: “Our aim is to put the community at the heart of what the club is striving to achieve.
“We are delighted to have the support of HIE as we further develop and enhance our role in our local community and beyond.”
An HIE spokesman said: “We approved investment of up to £150,000 in the ICTCD programme.
“The total cost of the programme is £450,000, and includes maintaining community development resources, rebranding during the transition towards community ownership of the club.
“Over the next three years our investment will support four full time equivalent posts and increase ICTCD turnover by more than £500,000.”
Coaches at the club run schools clubs have weekly classes teaching kids how to play and enjoy the game.
There is also training with youth goalkeepers, which includes work on their handling, shot stopping, crossing and playing it out from the back.
Other projects include walking football and football memories, aimed at helping the older generation to enjoy playing the game at a slower pace and even just meeting up and discussing football.
Football memories are used to improve the lives of people with dementia, using old photographs, matchday programmes and ticket stubs to assist people with memory problems.
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