Sky Sports and Kick It Out Renew Their Partnership

Sky Sports has renewed its partnership with Kick It Out for another year, reaffirming their shared commitment to creating a more inclusive football environment. The extended partnership, now in its sixth year, involves a £1m investment in a combination of cash and value-in-kind support to combat discrimination and provide 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 offers young people from underrepresented communities a chance to start their careers in football, has also received support. The partnership has enabled the creation of a documentary about Kick It Out's founder, Lord Herman Ouseley, to educate younger audiences about his impact on the organisation. Sky's £30m commitment to addressing structural inequality has funded 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 continued support, stating that the partnership provides 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 promoting inclusivity and tackling structural inequality in football. Sky Sports is dedicated to maintaining a respectful and inclusive online environment, free from abuse and hate speech.