Sky Sports and Kick It Out Renew Partnership

Sky Sports and Kick It Out have reaffirmed their commitment to promoting inclusivity in football by extending their partnership for an additional year. This renewed collaboration, now in its sixth year, underscores the organisations' dedication to fostering a more welcoming environment in the sport. The partnership involves a £1m investment, comprising both financial and value-in-kind support, aimed at combating discrimination and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups in football. Over the past year, Sky Sports has actively supported various Kick It Out initiatives, including the launch of the 'Football United' strategy, a new partnership with Guinness 0.0, and the development of The Academy, an online education platform. The Raise Your Game programme, which provides young people from underrepresented communities with a foothold in the football industry, has also received significant support. Notable events include the launch of 'Football United', hosted by Sky Sports News presenter Bela Shah, and the unveiling of the Guinness 0.0 partnership, which aims to make pubs more inclusive. Sky Sports has also produced a documentary about Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley, highlighting his legacy in promoting equality and inclusion in football. This film was showcased on Sky Sports and at England's match against Latvia, coinciding with what would have been Lord Ouseley's 80th birthday. The partnership is part of Sky's broader £30m commitment to addressing structural inequality. Hollie Varney, COO of Kick It Out, expressed gratitude for Sky's ongoing support, emphasizing the importance of their collaboration in providing unique education and development opportunities. David Carrigan, Group Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Sky, reiterated the company's long-term commitment to driving inclusivity in football, leveraging Sky's platform to challenge discrimination and create a more representative game.