Sky Sports and Kick It Out Strengthen Their Alliance

Sky Sports and Kick It Out have renewed their partnership for an additional year, underscoring their shared dedication to fostering a more inclusive football environment. The one-year extension marks the sixth year of collaboration, with a £1m investment in a combination of financial and value-in-kind support aimed at combating discrimination and creating career opportunities in football. Over the past year, Sky Sports has backed various Kick It Out initiatives, including the launch of the 'Football United' strategy, a partnership with Guinness 0.0, the online education platform The Academy, and the Raise Your Game programme, which provides underrepresented communities with a foothold in the sport. Kick It Out's 'Football United' strategy was unveiled in September, with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville in attendance. Sky Sports News presenter Bela Shah played a pivotal role in mentoring Raise Your Game delegates Elliott-Jay Henry and Razaq Folarin. The partnership also involves training thousands of Greene King staff to create more welcoming pubs. Sky Sports helped produce a documentary about Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley, which was screened on Sky Sports and at England's game against Latvia. Funded through Sky's £30m commitment to address structural inequality, the investment has supported several initiatives, including a joint scholarship programme with the University of Liverpool Management School. 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. David Carrigan, Group Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Sky, emphasized the importance of the partnership in driving forward a more inclusive game. Sky Sports is committed to maintaining a hate-free environment on its social media platforms and website.