Sky Sports Renews Partnership with Kick It Out for Another Year

Sky Sports has extended its partnership with Kick It Out for an additional year, reaffirming their shared commitment to creating a more inclusive football environment. This one-year extension marks the sixth year of their partnership, with a continued investment of £1 million in a combination of financial 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 to enter the football industry, has also received support. Kick It Out's 'Football United' strategy was launched in September, with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville in attendance. Sky Sports News presenter Bela Shah hosted the event and mentored two Raise Your Game delegates, Elliott-Jay Henry and Razaq Folarin. The partnership has also helped showcase Kick It Out's partnership with Guinness 0.0, aiming to make pubs more welcoming, with Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison attending the launch event. Additionally, Sky Sports has produced a documentary about Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley, which was shown on Sky Sports and at England's game against Latvia. The film aimed to educate younger audiences about Lord Ouseley's impact on the organisation. The partnership has supported several other initiatives, including a joint scholarship programme with the University of Liverpool Management School, providing students from underrepresented backgrounds with the opportunity to earn an MBA in Football Industries. 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 for underrepresented communities in football. David Carrigan, Group Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Sky, emphasized the company's long-term commitment to tackling structural inequality in football. Sky Sports is dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive environment for comment and debate on its social media platforms, free from abuse, hate, and profanity.