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

Sky Sports and Kick It Out have reaffirmed their commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in football by extending their partnership for an additional year. This renewed collaboration, now in its sixth year, represents a £1m investment in a combination of financial and value-in-kind support aimed at combating discrimination and creating opportunities 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, and the development of The Academy, an online education platform. Additionally, Sky Sports has backed the Raise Your Game programme, which provides young individuals from underrepresented communities with a chance to break into the football industry. The 'Football United' strategy was unveiled in September, with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville in attendance. Sky Sports News presenter Bela Shah also played a pivotal role in mentoring two Raise Your Game delegates, Elliott-Jay Henry and Razaq Folarin, who co-hosted a programme for the first time after meeting Bela at Sky Sports Studios. Sky Sports has also helped promote Kick It Out's partnership with Guinness 0.0, aimed at making pubs more welcoming and inclusive. This partnership will provide training for thousands of Greene King staff to identify and address football-related discrimination. Furthermore, Sky Sports has produced a documentary about Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley, which was broadcast on Sky Sports and shown at England's game against Latvia to coincide with what would have been Lord Ouseley's 80th birthday. The partnership between Sky and Kick It Out is part of Sky's £30m commitment to addressing structural inequality. Over the past six years, this investment has supported several initiatives, including a joint scholarship programme with the University of Liverpool Management School, which has enabled eight candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to earn an MBA in Football Industries. Hollie Varney, COO of Kick It Out, stated: 'Our partnership with Sky has grown significantly over the past six years, providing unique education and development opportunities for underrepresented communities in football. This aligns with our 'Football United' strategy, which aims to make the football industry more reflective of the talent that exists both on and off the pitch.' David Carrigan, Group Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Sky, added: 'Kick It Out has been a vital partner in driving forward a more inclusive and representative game. By extending this partnership, we reaffirm our long-term commitment to tackling structural inequality in football, using Sky's platform and influence to create opportunities and challenge discrimination.' Sky Sports is dedicated to maintaining a safe and respectful environment on its social media channels, free from abuse, hate, and profanity. If you encounter any hateful content, please report it to Sky Sports.