Sky Sports and Kick It Out Renew Their Commitment to Promoting Inclusivity in Football

The partnership between Sky Sports and Kick It Out has been extended for another year, underscoring their shared dedication to fostering a more welcoming environment in football. This one-year extension marks the sixth year of their collaboration, with a continued investment of £1m in a combination of financial support and value-in-kind contributions aimed at combating discrimination and creating career opportunities within the sport. Over the past year, Sky Sports has provided backing for various Kick It Out initiatives, including the launch of the 'Football United' strategy, a partnership with Guinness 0.0, the online education platform known as The Academy, and the Raise Your Game programme, which offers young individuals from underrepresented communities a chance to embark on their football careers. The 'Football United' strategy was unveiled at an event hosted by Sky Sports News presenter Bela Shah, with prominent Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville in attendance. Bela also played a pivotal role in mentoring two Raise Your Game delegates, Elliott-Jay Henry and Razaq Folarin, who co-hosted an event for the first time after meeting Bela at the Sky Sports Studios. Razaq praised Bela's guidance, stating that her advice was invaluable. Additionally, Sky helped promote Kick It Out's partnership with Guinness 0.0, which aims to make pubs more inclusive, with Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison featuring at the launch event. This partnership will facilitate the training of thousands of Greene King staff to recognize and address football-related discrimination. Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth hosted Kick It Out's Media Raise Your Game event, where a record number of attendees participated in a workshop conducted by producer Maryam Chaudhary and reporter Chris Reidy. Furthermore, Sky Sports produced a documentary about the founder of Kick It Out, Lord Herman Ouseley, to educate younger audiences about his impact on the organization over the past 30 years. The documentary was broadcast on Sky Sports and displayed at England's match against Latvia to coincide with what would have been Lord Ouseley's 80th birthday. Sky's creative team also provided digital support to highlight his influence on LED screens at Wembley Stadium. As part of Sky's £30m commitment to addressing structural inequality, their multimillion-pound investment in Kick It Out has supported several initiatives, including a joint scholarship program with the University of Liverpool Management School, which has enabled eight candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to graduate with an MBA in Football Industries. The investment has also supported Kick It Out's digital learning platform, The Academy, which has delivered educational content on equality, diversity, and inclusion to nearly 5,000 individuals. Hollie Varney, COO of Kick It Out, expressed gratitude for Sky's ongoing support, stating that their partnership has provided unique education and development opportunities for underrepresented communities in football, aligning with the heart of their 'Football United' strategy. David Carrigan, Group Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Sky, emphasized the importance of the partnership in driving a more inclusive and representative game, utilizing Sky's platform and influence to create opportunities, amplify voices, and challenge discrimination. Sky Sports is dedicated to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for commentary and debate on its website and social media channels, free from abuse, hate, and profanity. The organization encourages users to report any instances of hate speech, ensuring that their social media accounts remain a safe space for all fans.