Sky Sports and Kick It Out Renew Their Partnership

Sky Sports and Kick It Out have reaffirmed their commitment to creating a more welcoming football environment by extending their partnership for an additional year. This renewal marks the sixth year of their collaboration, with a continued investment of £1 million in a combination of financial support and value-in-kind contributions to combat discrimination and foster career opportunities within the sport. Over the past year, Sky Sports has backed various Kick It Out initiatives, including the launch of the 'Football United' strategy, a partnership with Guinness 0.0, and the online education platform The Academy. The Raise Your Game programme has also provided young individuals from underrepresented communities with the chance to break into the football industry. Key Sky Sports personalities, such as Gary Neville and Bela Shah, have played significant roles in supporting these initiatives. The partnership has also facilitated the creation of a documentary about Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley, aiming to educate younger audiences about his impact on the organisation. Furthermore, the collaboration has supported several other initiatives, including a joint scholarship programme with the University of Liverpool Management School and ongoing investment in Kick It Out's digital learning platform. According to Hollie Varney, COO of Kick It Out, the partnership has grown to provide unique education and development opportunities for underrepresented communities in football. David Carrigan, Group Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Sky, emphasized the company's long-term commitment to tackling structural inequality in football. Sky Sports is dedicated to maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment across its online platforms, encouraging fans to report any instances of hate or abuse.