North Yorkshire project to improve numeracy skills set to expand
More than 3,000 learners have taken part in the 'Multiply' scheme
A scheme which has led to hundreds of people in North Yorkshire and York improving their numeracy skills is set to be brought to an even wider audience to help boost maths skills across the county.
The Multiply project has been made possible after a £3.3 million investment was secured from the Government.
The funding was provided through the £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which has been established to help the Government’s levelling up agenda to tackle regional inequalities across the country.
The Multiply initiative has been supported by a partnership of North Yorkshire Council’s Adult Learning Service, City of York Council’s York Learning and a consortium led by Better Connect.
North Yorkshire Council says the cost of living crisis has heightened the need for people to have adequate numeracy skills to help to keep a close check on their personal finances.
In the first 12 months of the project, Multiply has been a big success in York and North Yorkshire with more than 3,000 learners – who did not already have a GCSE grade 4 (or C) in maths – having signed up to the scheme. They gained maths skills and qualifications while learning at a pace that suited them.
Courses have included ‘Your money matters’ ‘Slow cooking’ ‘Confidence with number’ ‘Hug in a jug’ and many more creative courses that have developed the numeracy skills of the community with delivery partners Adult Learning North Yorkshire, York Learning and the Better Connect partnership delivering these activities.
Looking ahead, more Multiply events are planned across the communities, including an event for National Numeracy Day tomorrow (17th May). Planning is also underway for courses that will develop confidence using numbers, help people to understand and save money, understand their children’s numeracy work and much more.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said: “I am delighted that the Multiply project has been a huge success for learners in North Yorkshire and York.
“The impact on our communities has been immense, with learners telling us that as a direct result of the course they have sorted through their bills and saved money, signed up for accredited numeracy courses and developed confidence in numbers.
“Outreach activities have taken place in community venues where learners would not normally be engaged, such as libraries, supermarkets, racecourses and festivals. This has encouraged learners to experience new activities and helped to remove the ‘fear’ of maths. The ‘Spag bol challenge’ was rolled out in supermarkets to encourage shoppers to save money on their shopping bills and proved a huge hit.
“Well done to each and every person who signed up to the numeracy scheme and to our proud winners.”
To find out more about the scheme in York and North Yorkshire, email multiply@northyorks.gov.uk