Kick It Out chief: 'We are excited for the future'

| 23 October 2020

Reports have cast doubt on the future funding Kick It Out will receive.

Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari says its partners are “enthusiastic about its vision for the future” amid reports funding could be cut next year.

It has been reported the anti-discrimination charity, which receives funding from the Premier League, the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Football Association, has not been given guarantees around its budget for the 2021-22 season, despite discrimination in the game being on the rise.

However, Bhandari says Kick It Out is working to reaffirm the arrangements with existing and new funding partners, and is prepared to work flexibly as the whole game tries to deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

🔈We’re excited to announce the launch of our new campaign #TakeAStand. We want you to join us and take action in the fight against discrimination. Find out more 👉🏾 https://t.co/GqoUDZky3X pic.twitter.com/YqLP91pn97

— Kick It Out (@kickitout) October 11, 2020

“We have been conducting a strategic review and are going through a period of transition as we execute our new strategy,” he said.

“A rolling year-to-year approach to the end of the current three-year cycle in 2022 suits Kick It Out much better as it gives us flexibility within that cycle.

“We have been in regular contact with our funders over the course of our current strategic review. They are enthusiastic about our vision for the future and continuing to work in partnership with us.”

Bhandari announced a strategic review of the charity’s operations in November last year.