We have two pairs of tickets to give away to Corrie, a new stage show based on the soap opera
FIND OUT MOREYour chance to win a fantastic three-piece 'skin perfector' set worth more than £120.
FIND OUT MOREChartered Accountants Lucas Reis are offering an hour's free business consultation.
FIND OUT MOREThe swimming pool built in the MEN Arena for this month's FINA World Swimming Championships will also serve a humanitarian cause.
On April 5, a soap star relay race will take place, with teams confirmed from Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, in support of a global fundraising initiative for the prevention of malaria.
At least 1.5 million people in the world die from malaria each year. Ninety per cent of the deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa and 70 per cent of the victims are children under five. That's equivalent to one child dying of malaria in Africa every 30 seconds.
The severity of the problem prompted Speedo International and Sudan-born supermodel Alek Wek to launch World Swim Against Malaria, with the aim to get one million people around the world swimming on April 5.
Anyone can take part, regardless of ability or fitness level. To follow the example of Manchester's favourite soap stars, all you have to do is register online at www.worldswimagainstmalaria.com/speedo, pay a one-off registration fee of £2.62, and make a splash in a swimming pool near you.
Each donation will buy a much needed bednet (mosquito net) impregnated with insecticide, which offers the most effective protection against malaria. Once you have registered, you can also get sponsored by friends and colleagues to raise more money and buy more bednets.
Manchester-based property company Bruntwood and the Royal Exchange Theatre have launched their second playwriting competition in search of new writing talent for the theatre.
First launched in 2005, the Bruntwood Playwriting Competition is open to writers of all experience, aged 18 and over, from throughout the UK and Ireland. Anonymous selection allows both novices and professionals to compete alongside each other under pseudonyms.
The inaugural competition attracted nearly 2,000 entries and saw the top three winning plays receive full productions at the Royal Exchange, as well as major cash prizes.
This year's winners will share a £35,000 prize fund and have their work considered for production by the Royal Exchange.
The judging panel will be chaired by actor and director Richard Wilson and will include actress Brenda Blethyn, actor Michael Sheen, film director Roger Michell, playwright Roy Williams, Royal Exchange artistic director Greg Hersov and Bruntwood chairman Michael Oglesby.
The deadline for entries is June 13 and the winners will be announced in October. For more information visit www.writeaplay.co.uk.
Vertu, the leading manufacturer of luxury mobile phones, has expanded its presence in Manchester with the opening of a new shop in Selfridges Exchange Square.
The launch is part of a major international expansion for 2008, which will see Vertu establishing itself in the style capitals of the world, with a flagship store opening in New York and further stand-alone boutiques in Paris and Milan.
Vertu president Alberto Torres said: "In this landmark year for Vertu, we are delighted to be opening this new Vertu shop in Selfridges Exchange Square, Manchester, to showcase our full range of handcrafted mobile phones.
"Manchester is one of our most rapidly growing markets in the UK and the luxurious and contemporary environment of Selfridges Exchange Square is the perfect location for our first store within a store outside of London."
Established in 1998, Vertu creates handcrafted handsets that combine luxurious materials with top-notch English craftsmanship. Its mobile phones are available in over 500 watch, jewellery and department stores and Vertu boutiques in 50 countries.
Local celebrities will be donning their racing gear next month as part of Daytona Manchester's annual charity go-karting race, to raise money for the British Red Cross.
On May 16, 14 teams of eight, including a celeb team, will take to the track at Manchester's indoor karting venue to compete against each-other in an endurance race, complete with a pit stop challenge. The top three teams will step onto the podium to be presented with their trophies before concluding the evening with a raffle and charity auction.
This year's celebrity contestants have not been confirmed yet, but the celeb team at the last charity race included Shane Ritchie, Richard Fleeshman, Sally Lindsay, Scott Wright and Jack Marsden.
It costs just £450 for a team of eight to participate in the race. To book your place, call Alison Hibbert or Judith Rafferty on 0870 879 0067.
A new development agency has unveiled plans to transform one of Manchester's busiest roads into a beautiful green gateway to the city centre.
The Manchester City South Partnership was launched last month to unlock the economic potential of a 600-acre area immediately south of the city centre.
At the heart of this area is the perpetually congested Oxford Road, which is currently the busiest bus route in Europe. One of the partnership's priorities is to turn this road into a green, safe and attractive corridor, which will attract visitors and investors.
The proposals include the introduction of a Bus Rapid Transit system, operating between Parrs Wood and Piccadilly and between Christie Hospital and Salford Crescent. This new system will consist of high-frequency 'eco buses' that will reduce journey times from south Manchester to the city centre, while at the same time reducing congestion, easing parking pressures and improving environmental quality.
Landscaping and public realm improvements, including tree planting, lighting and public art, are also proposed.
To find out more about the future of Oxford Road see our 'city in motion' feature.
All About Manchester is proud to be supporting the North West launch of the Snow Leopard Trust UK - a charity established in 2006 to support the conservation of the snow leopard in Asia.
The launch event, which is also sponsored by Swarovski, Comme Ca Art, David Lake Photography and Snow Leopard Vodka, will take place on the evening of April 9 at Cloud 23, Hilton Manchester Deansgate. It will feature live jazz, tarot card reading and a specially created Snow Leopard Vodka cocktail.
There is a limited guest list for the event so if you would like to attend please RSVP to sue@leopardtrustuk.org.