About Us
Football for Wellbeing
Football for Wellbeing is a pioneering community initiative designed to address mental health challenges, social isolation, and health inequalities through the power of football and human connection. The project combines therapeutic sessions and competitive play to support recovery, inclusion, and personal growth, while delivering measurable benefits to participants
How we got started - The origin: lived experience at the heart
The project was founded by Babak Rafiei, a Senior Peer Support Worker from West London NHS Trust with lived experience of mental ill health.
Inspired by this, Babak proposed the initiative to support others facing similar struggles. Despite having zero budget, Babak leveraged personal and professional networks, successfully pitching the concept to QPR Football Club’s Community Trust programme, who agreed to finance the initial sessions and provide facilities.
What began as a grassroots effort has grown into a recognised model of inclusive, community-based support, showing how sport can transform lives beyond the pitch.
What we do
Dual Pathways:
- Competitive football, our teams compete in the FA affiliated leagues, providing a structured outlet for more competitive players.
- Therapeutic football to improve mental and physical health that also addresses health and social inequalities by creating safe social spaces to connect, grow, and thrive.
