Sky Sports and Kick It Out Renew Partnership

The partnership between Sky Sports and Kick It Out has been extended for another year, marking a sixth year of collaboration. This renewed partnership is a testament to the shared commitment of both organisations to creating a more welcoming environment in football. The extension involves a £1m investment, comprising both financial support and value-in-kind contributions, aimed at tackling discrimination and generating career opportunities within the sport. Over the past year, Sky Sports has been instrumental in supporting various Kick It Out initiatives. Notably, this includes the launch of Kick It Out's 'Football United' strategy, a five-year plan unveiled in September, which aims to make football more inclusive. Sky Sports has also supported the introduction of Kick It Out's online education platform, The Academy, and the Raise Your Game programme. The latter provides opportunities for young individuals from underrepresented communities to take their first steps in the football industry. A key event in the partnership was the launch of Kick It Out's 'Football United' strategy, attended by leading Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville. Additionally, Sky Sports News presenter Bela Shah played a crucial role in mentoring two Raise Your Game delegates, Elliott-Jay Henry and Razaq Folarin, who later co-hosted an event for the first time after meeting Bela at Sky Sports Studios. The partnership also involves collaboration with other organisations, such as Guinness 0.0, to make pubs more welcoming and inclusive. Sky Sports helped promote this partnership, with Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison being the main attraction at the launch event in a Greene King pub in Westminster. The partnership aims to train thousands of Greene King staff to create a more inclusive environment and identify football-related discrimination. Furthermore, Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth hosted Kick It Out's Media Raise Your Game event at UCFB's Wembley campus, where a workshop was delivered to a record number of attendees. Sky Sports also produced a documentary about Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley to educate younger audiences about his impact on the organisation. The documentary was shown on Sky Sports and at England's game against Latvia to coincide with what would have been Lord Ouseley's 80th birthday. The partnership is part of Sky's £30m commitment to address structural inequality, with the investment in Kick It Out supporting various initiatives over the past six years. These initiatives include a joint scholarship programme with the University of Liverpool Management School, providing students from underrepresented backgrounds with the opportunity to earn an MBA in Football Industries. Hollie Varney, COO of Kick It Out, expressed gratitude for Sky's ongoing support, stating that the partnership is at the heart of their 'Football United' strategy. David Carrigan, Group Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Sky, emphasized the importance of the partnership in driving a more inclusive and representative game. Sky Sports is dedicated to making its online platforms a space for respectful comment and debate, free from abuse and hate. The organisation encourages users to report any instances of hate speech, ensuring a safe environment for all fans.