On July 4, Elite House in Runcorn will host something that doesn’t have an obvious category. Alongside a wrestling ring and both amateur and professional bouts, there will be conversations about men’s mental health, demonstrations from community organisations, and the quiet, purposeful work of people who’ve been building something in this town for a while now.
The event is hosted by Kindred, alongside Infamous Wrestling, which is organising the evening sessions – and brings together local organisations, charities, community groups and residents for a day designed around connection.
Wrestle it Back will highlight a range of organisations already working in the town and aims to reach who are looking for support, community and connection – perhaps without even knowing that’s what they’re looking for.
Alongside the wrestling, the day will feature talks, workshops, demonstrations and stalls from organisations doing active work to improve lives across Halton. Joining Infamous Wrestling on the day are Mindful Miniatures, Sunny Runny Films, Halton Sound radio station, Slurps Up coffee tasting, The ManCave, Junior Dayvis, a heavyweight sewing workshop from Saved and Made and a live set from Runcorn-based band Videocults – a range that reflects the breadth of what community resource actually looks like, well beyond what tends to appear on a referral list.
The longer story
Wrestle it Back follows a Festival of Ideas held in Runcorn last August – an open invitation to anyone with a vision for the town to come and share it. More than 40 people showed up, and what they brought with them became the foundation for Runcorn Old Town CLT, a community land trust that now has more than 200 members.
That festival was a partnership between Space Runcorn CIC, Runcorn Old Town CLT, Halton Borough Council and Halton and St Helens Voluntary and Community Action – and was held at Space Café, the kind of venue that only exists because someone decided to create it.
It’s a well-trodden pattern for Kindred – work with local partners to activate a place, create conditions for ideas to surface and support what emerges. Wrestle it Back is, among other things, an event that could only happen here, in this town, at this moment – because of the people who have been putting the pieces in place.
Emma Rushton is leading on the event for Kindred, and says: “What strikes me most about Wrestle it Back is that none of this has been manufactured. These organisations, these people – they were already here, already doing the work. We’ve just created a moment for them to be visible together. That’s what communities that look out for each other actually look like, and Runcorn has that in abundance.”
What it’s for
Isolation and poor mental health don’t always look like crisis – they might look like not knowing where to go, or not feeling like any of the options are quite for you. Wrestle it Back is trying to do something about that – creating an accessible, engaging day that helps people find local support networks and that celebrates the work those networks are already doing.
It takes place on 4 July at Elite House, Runcorn – directly opposite Runcorn Station. Doors are open to anyone and you can book your ticket here:
Wrestle it Back (daytime, 10-5pm)
Rock, Flag and Eagle, Infamous presents (evening event – doors, 6pm, bell 7pm)