Sky Sports and Kick It Out Renew Partnership to Foster Inclusivity in Football

Sky Sports and Kick It Out have announced a one-year extension of their partnership, marking a sixth year of collaboration. This renewed commitment is valued at £1m, comprising a mix of financial support and value-in-kind contributions aimed at combating discrimination and creating opportunities within the football industry. 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 to promote inclusivity in pubs, and educational programs such as The Academy and Raise Your Game. The latter provides underrepresented youth with a chance to break into the football world. The 'Football United' strategy was unveiled at an event attended by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, with Bela Shah hosting. Bela also mentored Raise Your Game participants Elliott-Jay Henry and Razaq Folarin, who later co-hosted an event, praising Bela's guidance as invaluable. Furthermore, Sky Sports supported the launch of Kick It Out's partnership with Guinness 0.0, aiming to make pubs more welcoming by training Greene King staff to recognize and address discrimination. Clinton Morrison, a Sky Sports pundit, was the main attraction at the launch event in Westminster. In November, 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 led by producer Maryam Chaudhary and reporter Chris Reidy. Additionally, Sky Sports produced a documentary about Lord Herman Ouseley, the founder of Kick It Out, who passed away in October 2024. The documentary, shown on Sky Sports and at England's match against Latvia, aimed to educate younger audiences about Lord Ouseley's significant impact on the organization since its inception over 30 years ago. This partnership is part of Sky's £30m commitment to address structural inequality. Over the last six years, Sky's investment in Kick It Out has supported several initiatives, including a joint scholarship program with the University of Liverpool Management School, which has seen eight candidates graduate with an MBA in Football Industries. It has also funded Kick It Out's digital learning platform, The Academy, which has provided 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 the partnership aligns with their 'Football United' strategy, aiming to make the football industry more reflective of the diverse talent it encompasses, both on and off the pitch, and to stand against discrimination. David Carrigan, Group Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Sky, emphasized the importance of the partnership in driving a more inclusive game, not just through funding but by utilizing Sky's platform to create opportunities, amplify voices, and challenge discrimination. Sky Sports is dedicated to maintaining its online platforms as spaces for respectful comment and debate, free from abuse and hate. Users are encouraged to report any expressions of hate on the basis of race, sex, color, gender, nationality, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexuality, age, or class. Together, Sky Sports and Kick It Out strive to make their social media accounts safe for all fans, promoting a culture of inclusivity and respect.