Sky Sports and Kick It Out Renew Their Partnership

Sky Sports has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling discrimination in football by extending its partnership with Kick It Out for another year. This one-year extension, valued at £1m in cash and value-in-kind support, marks the sixth year of collaboration between the two organizations. The partnership focuses on creating a more welcoming environment in football by addressing discrimination and providing career opportunities for underrepresented groups. Over the past year, Sky Sports has supported various Kick It Out initiatives, including the launch of the 'Football United' strategy, a new partnership with Guinness 0.0, and the online education platform The Academy. The Raise Your Game program, which offers young people from underrepresented communities a chance to break into the football industry, has also received significant support. Key events, such as the launch of Kick It Out's 'Football United' strategy and the partnership with Guinness 0.0, have been showcased on Sky Sports, with prominent figures like Gary Neville and Clinton Morrison in attendance. The partnership has also led to the creation of a documentary about Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley, highlighting his impact on the organization and the sport as a whole. This documentary was screened on Sky Sports and at England's game against Latvia, coinciding with what would have been Lord Ouseley's 80th birthday. The investment in Kick It Out is part of Sky's £30m commitment to tackling structural inequality. The collaboration has supported several initiatives, including a joint scholarship program with the University of Liverpool Management School, providing underrepresented students with the opportunity to earn an MBA in Football Industries. Additionally, the partnership has funded Kick It Out's digital learning platform, The Academy, which has delivered educational content on equality, diversity, and inclusion to nearly 5,000 people. According to Hollie Varney, COO of Kick It Out, the partnership has been instrumental in providing 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, using Sky's platform and influence to create opportunities and challenge discrimination. Sky Sports is dedicated to maintaining a safe and respectful environment on its social media channels, free from abuse, hate, and profanity, and encourages users to report any hateful content. By working together, Sky Sports and Kick It Out aim to create a game that truly reflects the diversity of the communities it serves, promoting a culture of inclusivity and respect for all.