A football programme helping people improve their mental wellbeing across west London, including Ealing, is set to almost triple its weekly sessions after securing Sport England funding.
West London NHS Trust’s Football for Wellbeing Hub will expand from four to 11 sessions a week and introduce employment support for participants.
The programme accepts referrals from Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow, but the trust said it has proved particularly popular with Ealing residents. More than half of its 100 active participants are from the borough, making Ealing the programme’s biggest source of referrals.
Based at the Powerleague football pitches in Shepherd’s Bush, close to the Ealing border, the hub combines football with peer support to help people experiencing mental health difficulties improve their wellbeing and reduce social isolation.
Since launching in July 2024, the programme has received more than 300 referrals and delivered more than 190 football sessions.
Babak Rafiei, employment specialist at West London NHS Trust and founder of the Football for Wellbeing Hub, said: “Our Football for Wellbeing Hub shows the power of sport in supporting mental health recovery. What once started as a community football project has grown into something bigger, and helps more people improve their wellbeing, reconnect with others and build confidence.”
Residents can self-referral by clicking here.
