ICT Supporters Trust

A big thank you to everyone who came along to the Race Night organised by the Supporters Trust on Saturday. We hope you had a great time, and thank you all for your generosity in backing the horses. The evening was a great success and, including the contributions from our sponsors, we raised over £1600. As many of you are aware, the night was to be hosted by Gary Wilson, aka "Face". Tragically, Face died suddenly and unexpectedly recently, but we decided to proceed, and one of the races was run in honour of Face, with the proceeds being donated to two charities that he supported: Mikeysline and RNLI. The event could not have taken place without the support of our sponsors. Stagecoach sponsored the event, with races sponsored by D&E Coaches, Inverness Computer Centre, Scottish Citylink, Ness City Tyres and the ICTFC Social Club. Thank you to you all. The Caley Club laid on an excellent buffet, and hopefully the event added to the bar takings! Thank you to some of our Board Members. To Laura for pulling everything together, Kath (ably assisted by husband Bob) for being the bookie, and George for stepping in and hosting the evening. We hope everyone who attended had a great time, and hopefully we will see you again at future events. Your support is greatly appreciated.

This confirms what everyone understood from the comments made by the Chairman at the recent Fans' Meeting, and demonstrates the difficult financial situation, particularly if the Scottish Government Reporter does not approve the Battery Farm. It also highlights the importance of the Stronger Together initiative by the Supporters Trust, which is aimed at increasing the voice of fans within the club and, therefore, on the decisions that the club takes. It aims to raise funds to purchase shares in the club, but the Trust Board will only decide to purchase shares when it is happy with commitments given by the club. If you have not already given your support, it is easy to do, with full details in this thread: https://caleythistleonline.com/topic/36186-stronger-together-how-to-contribute/ In summary, the payment options are: To make a recurring monthly payment through Stripe, use this link: https://buy.stripe.com/5kA00Fe5U5Sq4YoaEE The link allows recurring payments to be made on a monthly basis. The default setting is £10, but you can change this to any sum by clicking on "Qty 1", which appears below "ICT Sharesave". Changing the quantity to 2 makes the recurring payment £20, changing the quantity to 5 makes the recurring payment £50 etc. To make a one off payment through Stripe, use this link: https://buy.stripe.com/28o9Bfd1Q4OmcqQ3ce Simply insert the sum you wish to donate. These methods are in addition to those available at the launch, full details of which are in our brochure: https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/stronger-togetherd The link contains all you need to make one off or regular payments via your mobile banking app or internet banking, and also a Standing Order form that you can print and complete. The Standing Order form has the Supporters Trust bank details pre-populated, with these details which also apply for payments via your mobile banking app or internet banking: Sort Code: 83-23-10 Account Number: 11486617 Account Name: Inverness Caledonian Thistle Supporters Society Sharesave.

If you've no plans for tonight, why not join us at the Race Night at 1900 at the Caley Club? Admission is only £5 with tickets available from the Caley Club or by contacting the Supporters Trust (on Facebook, by e-mail to info@ictsupporterstrust.org, or by completing the form on our "contact us" page https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/contact). Tickets will also be available at the door on the evening. Thank you again to our sponsors who have made this event possible: Stagecoach, D&E Coaches, Inverness Computer Centre, Scottish Citylink, Ness City Tyres and the ICTFC Social Club.

We still have some tickets available for the Race Night at 1900 on Saturday at the Caley Club. Why not take this opportunity to enjoy an evening in the company of friends, make new friends, enjoy a few drinks and have a great time. Admission is only £5 with tickets available from the Caley Club or by contacting the Supporters Trust (on Facebook, by e-mail to info@ictsupporterstrust.org, or by completing the form on our "contact us" page https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/contact). Tickets will also be available at the door on the evening. Thank you again to our sponsors who have made this event possible: Stagecoach, D&E Coaches, Inverness Computer Centre, Scottish Citylink, Ness City Tyres and the ICTFC Social Club.

A reminder about the Race Night this Saturday at 1900 in the Caley Club. Tickets are available at the Caley Club, by contacting the Supporters Trust (on Facebook, by e-mail to info@ictsupporterstrust.org, or by completing the form on our "contact us" page https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/contact, or at the door on the evening. We hope many of you will be able to attend. Thank you again to our sponsors who have made this event possible: Stagecoach, D&E Coaches, Inverness Computer Centre, Scottish Citylink, Ness City Tyres and the ICTFC Social Club.

A reminder about the Race Night this Saturday at 1900 in the Caley Club. Tickets are available at the Caley Club, by contacting the Supporters Trust (on Facebook, by e-mail to info@ictsupporterstrust.org, or by completing the form on our "contact us" page https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/contact, or at the door on the evening. We hope many of you will be able to attend. Thank you again to our sponsors who have made this event possible: Stagecoach, D&E Coaches, Inverness Computer Centre, Scottish Citylink, Ness City Tyres and the ICTFC Social Club.

So that how to contribute does not get lost in this thread, we have put the payment methods together in a new thread that you can view here: https://caleythistleonline.com/topic/36186-stronger-together-how-to-contribute/#comment-563689

Given details may get lost in the thread about Stronger Together, we thought it would be helpful to put all the details of how to support the scheme in one post. If we add alternative payment methods, we will update this post. Since the launch, we have added the option of paying through Stripe. To make a recurring monthly payment through Stripe, use this link: https://buy.stripe.com/5kA00Fe5U5Sq4YoaEE The link allows recurring payments to be made on a monthly basis. The default setting is £10, but you can change this to any sum by clicking on "Qty 1", which appears below "ICT Sharesave". Changing the quantity to 2 makes the recurring payment £20, changing the quantity to 5 makes the recurring payment £50 etc. To make a one off payment through Stripe, use this link: https://buy.stripe.com/28o9Bfd1Q4OmcqQ3ce Simply insert the sum you wish to donate. These methods are in addition to those available at the launch, full details of which are in our brochure: https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/stronger-togetherd The link contains all you need to make one off or regular payments via your mobile banking app or internet banking, and also a Standing Order form that you can print and complete. The Standing Order form has the Supporters Trust bank details pre-populated, with these details which also apply for payments via your mobile banking app or internet banking: Sort Code: 83-23-10 Account Number: 11486617 Account Name: Inverness Caledonian Thistle Supporters Society Sharesave. If anyone has any difficulties, please contact us at info@ictsupporterstrust.org or by completing the form on our "contact us" page: https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/contact If you are not already a member of the Supporters Trust, have a look around our website, and you can join us at this link (joining is only £5 or £1 for under 16s): https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/join-us

Given details may get lost in the thread about Stronger Together, we thought it would be helpful to put all the details of how to support the scheme in one post. If we add alternative payment methods, we will update this post. Since the launch, we have added the option of paying through Stripe. To make a recurring monthly payment through Stripe, use this link: https://buy.stripe.com/5kA00Fe5U5Sq4YoaEE The link allows recurring payments to be made on a monthly basis. The default setting is £10, but you can change this to any sum by clicking on "Qty 1", which appears below "ICT Sharesave". Changing the quantity to 2 makes the recurring payment £20, changing the quantity to 5 makes the recurring payment £50 etc. To make a one off payment through Stripe, use this link: https://buy.stripe.com/28o9Bfd1Q4OmcqQ3ce Simply insert the sum you wish to donate. These methods are in addition to those available at the launch, full details of which are in our brochure: https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/stronger-togetherd The link contains all you need to make one off or regular payments via your mobile banking app or internet banking, and also a Standing Order form that you can print and complete. The Standing Order form has the Supporters Trust bank details pre-populated, with these details which also apply for payments via your mobile banking app or internet banking: Sort Code: 83-23-10 Account Number: 11486617 Account Name: Inverness Caledonian Thistle Supporters Society Sharesave. If anyone has any difficulties, please contact us at info@ictsupporterstrust.org or by completing the form on our "contact us" page: https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/contact If you are not already a member of the Supporters Trust, have a look around our website, and you can join us at this link (joining is only £5 or £1 for under 16s): https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/join-us

We have been looking at making alternative payment options available, which may be easier for many than setting up a Standing Order. Payments can now be made through Stripe, following this link: https://buy.stripe.com/5kA00Fe5U5Sq4YoaEE The link allows recurring payments to be made on a monthly basis. The default setting is £10, but you can change this to any sum by clicking on "Qty 1", which appears below "ICT Sharesave". Changing the quantity to 2 makes the recurring payment £20 etc, changing the quantity to 5 makes the recurring payment £50 etc. Thank you to everyone who has got in touch with positive feedback on Stronger Together and especially to those who have contributed so far.

We have been looking at making alternative payment options available, which may be easier for many than setting up a Standing Order. Payments can now be made through Stripe, following this link: https://buy.stripe.com/5kA00Fe5U5Sq4YoaEE The link allows recurring payments to be made on a monthly basis. The default setting is £10, but you can change this to any sum by clicking on "Qty 1", which appears below "ICT Sharesave". Changing the quantity to 2 makes the recurring payment £20 etc, changing the quantity to 5 makes the recurring payment £50 etc. Thank you to everyone who has got in touch with positive feedback on Stronger Together and especially to those who have contributed so far.

The Supporters Trust Board has been encouraged and heartened by the many supportive messages received, both at Saturday's Fans Meeting and subsequently. To pick up on some of the questions raised since Saturday (many of which were covered in the presentation on Saturday, in the brochure about Stronger Together or in the Q&A at the meeting), the objective is to raise funds which will be used to allow the Supporters Trust to invest in the club through the purchase of shares. The Supporters Trust will look to purchase shares when it feels the time is right, and only if it is satisfied by commitments given by the club. A long standing aim of the Supporters Trust is to have a fans' representative on the Board of the club. Any scale of shareholding in itself does not guarantee this as, for example, the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Trust Limited (the single biggest shareholder) does not have a representative on the Board. By having fans representation on the Board, we can look to ensure that decisions are taken with the fans' interests taken in to account, and that the club does things that are important to fans. In the Fans Meeting, the Chairman was receptive to an approach, and the Trust Board will consider the timing of this at its next meeting, taking in to account the restructuring that was indicated would be taking place for 1 June. The club Chairman and SLO were briefed on Stronger Together in advance of Saturday's launch. Both responded positively by e-mail and were supportive at the meeting. We also discussed the plan with other major shareholders and were encouraged to proceed. We are seeking to raise funds through Stronger Together. However, if anyone wishes to transfer their existing shareholding to the Trust, please contact us, and we will explore this with the club's Company Secretary. The club is clearly facing some of the most challenging times it has faced in its 30 year history. The Supporters Trust wishes to assist in ensuring that we have a sustainable club that can move forward, hence the launch of Stronger Together. We recognise that this initiative alone will not turn around the club's financial problems, but we have been arguing for some time that the club should be looking after the pennies as well as chasing the pounds. We believe that this message has landed with the club, as evidenced by a Man of the Match sponsor being in place at Saturday's game for the first time in a long time. For those not at the Fans Meetings or who have not joined the Supporters Trust, the Trust has made significant progress with the club this season. This started with the Matchday Experience Survey, and then the strength of feeling shown at the initial Fans Meetings. The club has clearly recognised that there have been issues and has started to engage positively with the Trust and to address some of the issues raised by us. We highlighted the need for an effective SLO, and welcome the appointment of Scott Young to this position. Scott clearly wants to maintain a positive working relationship with the Trust, to engage with fans, and to make a difference. Scott has been joined at our last three meetings by Ross Morrison, the Chairman, and both have engaged openly and honestly with the issues raised with them. Until the Matchday Experience Survey and the Fans Meetings, the Trust was struggling to have any meaningful dialogue with the club. That has changed during the course of this season. The club has recognised that their communication with fans has been very poor. There is still work to do on this, but we are now better informed than we have been for many years. The club has recognised that the way some complaints were dealt with was very poor and, through Scott Young, are now showing a willingness to ensure that issues are resolved promptly and professionally. The Trust has highlighted concerns about the Matchday Experience for fans with disabilities, and established a group to work with the club on this. The initial meeting is later this week. The club has recognised our feedback that fans are priced out of hospitality, and we got confirmation on Saturday that new offerings will be available next season, with a mix of corporate and affordable offerings. On our theme of looking after the pennies, the club has recognised that they have missed out on many sponsorship opportunities, in terms of sponsorship of players, matches, man of the match and match ball. This is starting to change, with a Man of the Match sponsor in place at Saturday's game. We will continue to push for the reintroduction of a meaningful player sponsorship scheme next season. This is a simple but effective way of increasing fan engagement, and we have even offered to administer it for the club. These are just examples of what has been achieved, but we recognise that there is more work to be done, and we will continue to work on your behalf. The Trust Board is made up of volunteers who are passionate about the club and happy to devote their own time to helping to take things forward. Finally, thank you again to our many recently joined members for signing up, to all our members for their continued support, to everyone who has attended the Fans Meetings, and for all the supportive messages about the work we are carrying out.

The Supporters Trust Board has been encouraged and heartened by the many supportive messages received, both at Saturday's Fans Meeting and subsequently. To pick up on some of the questions raised in this thread (many of which were covered in the presentation on Saturday, in the brochure about Stronger Together or in the Q&A at the meeting), the objective is to raise funds which will be used to allow the Supporters Trust to invest in the club through the purchase of shares. The Supporters Trust will look to purchase shares when it feels the time is right, and only if it is satisfied by commitments given by the club. A long standing aim of the Supporters Trust is to have a fans' representative on the Board of the club. Any scale of shareholding in itself does not guarantee this as, for example, the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Trust Limited (the single biggest shareholder) does not have a representative on the Board. By having fans representation on the Board, we can look to ensure that decisions are taken with the fans' interests taken in to account, and that the club does things that are important to fans. In the Fans Meeting, the Chairman was receptive to an approach, and the Trust Board will consider the timing of this at its next meeting, taking in to account the restructuring that was indicated would be taking place for 1 June. The club Chairman and SLO were briefed on Stronger Together in advance of Saturday's launch. Both responded positively by e-mail and were supportive at the meeting. We also discussed the plan with other major shareholders and were encouraged to proceed. We are seeking to raise funds through Stronger Together. However, if anyone wishes to transfer their existing shareholding to the Trust, please contact us, and we will explore this with the club's Company Secretary. The club is clearly facing some of the most challenging times it has faced in its 30 year history. The Supporters Trust wishes to assist in ensuring that we have a sustainable club that can move forward, hence the launch of Stronger Together. We recognise that this initiative alone will not turn around the club's financial problems, but we have been arguing for some time that the club should be looking after the pennies as well as chasing the pounds. We believe that this message has landed with the club, as evidenced by a Man of the Match sponsor being in place at Saturday's game for the first time in a long time. For those not at the Fans Meetings or who have not joined the Supporters Trust, the Trust has made significant progress with the club this season. This started with the Matchday Experience Survey, and then the strength of feeling shown at the initial Fans Meetings. The club has clearly recognised that there have been issues and has started to engage positively with the Trust and to address some of the issues raised by us. We highlighted the need for an effective SLO, and welcome the appointment of Scott Young to this position. Scott clearly wants to maintain a positive working relationship with the Trust, to engage with fans, and to make a difference. Scott has been joined at our last three meetings by Ross Morrison, the Chairman, and both have engaged openly and honestly with the issues raised with them. Until the Matchday Experience Survey and the Fans Meetings, the Trust was struggling to have any meaningful dialogue with the club. That has changed during the course of this season. The club has recognised that their communication with fans has been very poor. There is still work to do on this, but we are now better informed than we have been for many years. The club has recognised that the way some complaints were dealt with was very poor and, through Scott Young, are now showing a willingness to ensure that issues are resolved promptly and professionally. The Trust has highlighted concerns about the Matchday Experience for fans with disabilities, and established a group to work with the club on this. The initial meeting is later this week. The club has recognised our feedback that fans are priced out of hospitality, and we got confirmation on Saturday that new offerings will be available next season, with a mix of corporate and affordable offerings. On our theme of looking after the pennies, the club has recognised that they have missed out on many sponsorship opportunities, in terms of sponsorship of players, matches, man of the match and match ball. This is starting to change, with a Man of the Match sponsor in place at Saturday's game. We will continue to push for the reintroduction of a meaningful player sponsorship scheme next season. This is a simple but effective way of increasing fan engagement, and we have even offered to administer it for the club. These are just examples of what has been achieved, but we recognise that there is more work to be done, and we will continue to work on your behalf. The Trust Board is made up of volunteers who are passionate about the club and happy to devote their own time to helping to take things forward. Finally, thank you again to our many recently joined members for signing up, to all our members for their continued support, to everyone who has attended the Fans Meetings, and for all the supportive messages about the work we are carrying out.

All members of the Supporters Trust should have received details of Stronger Together by e-mail from the Trust yesterday. If you did not receive it, please let us know. The courier and Press and Journal were at Saturday's Fans Meeting, and both have covered it on line and we expect it to feature in their print editions: https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/sport/fans-investment-initiative-looks-to-give-supporters-greater-347261/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/inverness-caledonian-thistle/6425681/appeal-for-caley-thistle-fans-far-and-wide-to-back-trusts-new-fund/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

All members of the Supporters Trust should have received details of Stronger Together by e-mail from the Trust yesterday. If you did not receive it, please let us know. The courier and Press and Journal were at Saturday's Fans Meeting, and both have covered it on line and we expect it to feature in their print editions: https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/sport/fans-investment-initiative-looks-to-give-supporters-greater-347261/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/inverness-caledonian-thistle/6425681/appeal-for-caley-thistle-fans-far-and-wide-to-back-trusts-new-fund/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social