Sky Sports and Kick It Out Renew Partnership

Sky Sports and Kick It Out have renewed their partnership for an additional year, reaffirming their commitment to fostering a more inclusive football environment. This one-year extension marks the sixth year of their collaboration, with a continued investment of £1m in a combination of cash and value-in-kind support to combat discrimination and create career opportunities in football. Over the past year, Sky Sports has supported 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, which provides opportunities for young people from underrepresented communities, has also received support. Key events, such as the launch of 'Football United' and the Media Raise Your Game event, have been hosted by prominent Sky Sports personalities, including Gary Neville and Dharmesh Sheth. Furthermore, Sky Sports has produced a documentary about Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley to educate younger audiences about his impact on the organization. The partnership is part of Sky's £30m commitment to addressing structural inequality and has supported several initiatives, including a joint scholarship programme with the University of Liverpool Management School and ongoing investment in Kick It Out's digital learning platform. Hollie Varney, COO of Kick It Out, expressed gratitude for Sky's ongoing support, highlighting the partnership's role in providing unique education and development opportunities for underrepresented communities. David Carrigan, Group Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Sky, emphasized the company's long-term commitment to driving forward a more inclusive and representative game. Sky Sports is dedicated to maintaining a hate-free environment on its social media platforms and encourages users to report any instances of hate speech.