Sky Sports and Kick It Out Renew Their Partnership

Sky Sports and Kick It Out have announced a one-year extension of their partnership, marking a sixth year of collaboration to promote inclusivity in football. The £1m investment, comprising cash and value-in-kind support, aims to combat discrimination and create career opportunities in the sport. 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 underrepresented communities, has also received support from Sky Sports. The partnership has enabled the training of thousands of Greene King staff to make pubs more welcoming and inclusive. Additionally, Sky Sports has produced a documentary about Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley to educate younger audiences about his impact on the organisation. The film was shown on Sky Sports and at England's game against Latvia to coincide with what would have been Lord Ouseley's 80th birthday. Sky's investment in Kick It Out is part of its £30m commitment to tackle structural inequality. 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 driving forward a more inclusive and representative game. Sky Sports is dedicated to creating a safe and respectful environment for comment and debate on its social media platforms, free from abuse, hate, and profanity.