Publish date: 9 December 2025
We are pleased to share that Babak Rafiei-Taghanaki, a Senior Peer Support Worker at West London NHS Trust, has won the Clinical Support Worker Innovator of the Year award at the Capital CSW Awards 2025.
This award recognises individuals or small teams who introduce new ways of working that improve patient care, staff experience, or service delivery. Babak was selected from 10 finalists representing more than 140 NHS Trusts and services.
About the Capital CSW Awards
Previously known as the London Healthcare Support Worker Awards, the event was renamed Capital CSW Awards to reflect its broader focus on Clinical Support Workers across nursing, maternity, and allied health professions. The ceremony took place on 18 November at Kensington Town Hall, attended by representatives from 29 NHS Trusts and one GP practice. The day featured inspiring speeches, innovation showcases , networking, and celebrations of excellence.
About the Football for Wellbeing project
Babak’s award-winning initiative, the Football for Wellbeing Hub, is a pioneering non-medical outreach programme launched in July 2024. Delivered in partnership with QPR in the Community Trust, Footie Addicts, and Everyone Active, the project uses football as a therapeutic tool to support adults with mental health challenges, reduce social isolation, and tackle health inequalities.
Operating on zero NHS budget, Babak leveraged his lived experience, strategic partnerships, and volunteer support to deliver four free weekly sessions across West London. Since its launch, the hub has delivered more than 60 football sessions and supported 100+ participants. Since its launch the project has received more than 200 refe rrals, with just under half (42%) aimed at preventing mental health crises . The initiative has inspired replication across multiple NHS Trusts nationwide and earned accreditation with the Westminster Active Mark Plus for quality standards in physical activity and community engagement.
Judges at the awards ceremony praised the programme as “really innovative and inspiring,” noting its tangible positive impact, scalability, and inclusive design.
Babak’s journey and impact
Babak founded the project after experiencing firsthand how football transformed his own mental health.
Babak Rafiei-Taghanaki said: “Medication is not the only solution. Football gave me my life back and now it’s doing the same for others”.
The sessions are free and open to anyone over 18 living in West London, with men-only, women-only, and mixed-gender games. Many attendees come from underserved communities and ethnic minority groups, creating a safe, inclusive space where everyone is welcome - even those who cannot play.
Congratulations, Babak, on this incredible achievement!
For more information about the Football for Wellbeing Hub, email wlt.footballforwellbeinghub@nhs.net.