Sky Sports and Kick It Out Renew Their Partnership

Sky Sports has extended its partnership with Kick It Out for another year, underscoring both organisations' enduring commitment to fostering a more inclusive football environment. The one-year extension marks the sixth year of collaboration and involves a £1m investment, comprising both financial support and value-in-kind contributions, aimed at combating discrimination and creating career pathways within the sport. Over the past year, Sky Sports has actively supported 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. This programme provides opportunities for young individuals from underrepresented communities to embark on their football careers. The 'Football United' strategy was unveiled at an event hosted by Sky Sports News presenter Bela Shah, with Gary Neville in attendance. Bela also played a pivotal role in mentoring programme delegates Elliott-Jay Henry and Razaq Folarin. Razaq praised Bela's guidance, stating that her advice was invaluable. Sky Sports facilitated the promotion of Kick It Out's partnership with Guinness 0.0, aimed at making pubs more welcoming, with Clinton Morrison featuring prominently at the launch event. This partnership will facilitate the training of thousands of Greene King staff to foster inclusivity and identify football-related discrimination. In November, Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth hosted Kick It Out's Media Raise Your Game event, where a workshop was conducted by Maryam Chaudhary and Chris Reidy for a record number of attendees. Additionally, Sky Sports produced a documentary about Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley, which was showcased on Sky Sports and at England's match against Latvia, coinciding with what would have been Lord Ouseley's 80th birthday. The documentary aimed to educate younger audiences about Lord Ouseley's impact on the organisation he founded over 30 years ago. Funded by Sky's £30m commitment to address structural inequality, the investment in Kick It Out has supported several initiatives, including a joint scholarship programme with the University of Liverpool Management School, providing underrepresented students with the opportunity to pursue an MBA in Football Industries. It has also supported Kick It Out's digital learning platform, The Academy, which has delivered educational content to almost 5,000 individuals. Hollie Varney, COO of Kick It Out, expressed gratitude for Sky's ongoing support, stating that the partnership has provided unique education and development opportunities, aligning with the 'Football United' strategy's goal of creating a more reflective and inclusive football industry. David Carrigan, Group Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Sky, reiterated the company's long-term commitment to tackling structural inequality in football, leveraging Sky's platform to create opportunities, amplify voices, and challenge discrimination. Sky Sports is dedicated to maintaining its online platforms as a space for respectful comment and debate, free from abuse and hate. The company encourages users to report any hateful content, striving to create a safe environment for all fans, where sport can be celebrated by everyone.