Manchester’s popular shopping event for students is returning for 2023, with massive discounts in shops across the centre.
Organised by Manchester Arndale and Manchester BID, the MCR Student Social is back and promises to be bigger than ever before, with live entertainment, competitions, games and experiences joining the huge discounts available all across the city centre.
Taking place on Thursday 28 September, from 12pm until 7pm, the MCR Student Social will be a chance for the city’s new and returning students to snap up big discounts.
There’ll be discounts of up to 30% off in more than 120 stores for students within the Manchester Arndale and across the city centre, including Levi’s, Harvey Nichols, River Island, Monki, JD, Mango, Superdry, Kick Game, Jack & Jones, Office and Schuh.
On top of that, hospitality venues including Urban Playground (where you can have a go at ITV’s hit show The Cube), Immersive Gamebox, Archie’s, Krispy Kreme, Pizza Hut and Barburrito will have up to 50% off.
ADVERTISEMENT
Free entertainment on offer will include Bonkers Bingo, where you choose your balls at random from the roaming bingo box for a chance to win a whole host of prizes, and Roaming Roulette, where you can win prizes for correctly guessing the weird and wonderful items inside a mystery box.
Soundtracking the whole thing, naturally, will be The Manc‘s DJ Truck, where our very own Dean will be playing the finest hip-hop, funk and party anthems throughout the day.
ADVERTISEMENT
Monki will have a ‘Ballnado’ machine installed where you have to catch as many balls as possible in 30 seconds.
On Market Street, the Entertainment Zone will have even more games and giveaways, from Skiddle, Urban Playground’s The Cube, Lush, Pure Gym and more pitching up to say hi.
Meanwhile, the Food Zone will have special offers, samples and prizes from PizzaLuxe, Franco Manca and more.
ADVERTISEMENT
You can hear demonstrations, advice and guidance from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), Oliver Cookson Foundation, HSBC and Recycle for Greater Manchester in the Info Zone.
There’ll be loads happening inside stores too. Find live DJs in Decent Cuts and win prizes or get goody bags in the likes of Schuh, Blue Banana and McDonald’s.
The MCR Student Socialwill take over the city on Thursday 28 September between 12pm-7pm.
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Daisy Jackson -
21st September 2023 
