Sky Sports and Kick It Out Renew Partnership

Sky Sports and Kick It Out have announced a one-year extension of their partnership, marking a sixth year of collaboration in promoting diversity and inclusion in football. The partnership involves a £1m investment in a combination of financial support and value-in-kind contributions to combat discrimination and create 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 young people from underrepresented communities, has also received support from Sky Sports. The partnership has enabled the creation of a documentary about Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley, which was shown on Sky Sports and at England's game against Latvia. The film aimed to educate younger audiences about Lord Ouseley's impact on the organisation. Sky's investment in Kick It Out is part of its £30m commitment to addressing structural inequality. The partnership has supported several initiatives, including a joint scholarship programme with the University of Liverpool Management School, which has enabled eight candidates to graduate with an MBA in Football Industries. Hollie Varney, COO of Kick It Out, expressed gratitude for Sky's ongoing support, stating that the partnership is crucial in providing 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 challenging discrimination in the sport. Sky Sports is dedicated to maintaining a platform that is free from abuse, hate, and profanity, and encourages users to report any instances of hateful content.