A brand-new public awareness campaign is underway to promote a programme which provides adults with free numeracy courses and support.
Stoke by Numbers was launched by Stoke on Trent College, in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council on National Numeracy Day.
It is part of the government’s new national programme, Multiply, which aims to transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of adults across the UK.
It will help adults across Stoke-on-Trent improve their ability to understand and use maths in daily life, home and work.
That could be improving household finances, helping children with homework, making sense of the facts in the media, or improving numeracy skills specific to a line of work.
Earlier this year Daily Focus reported that there is a growing concern among companies that up to two thirds of employees need improved maths’ abilities for their jobs.
The programme was launched at Port Vale Football Club, where guests from across the city heard from Lisa Capper MBE, Principal and CEO at Stoke on Trent College, Delyth Mathieson, Assistant Director Education and Family Support at Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Sam Sims CEO at National Numeracy.
Guests also took part in a Number Natter activity to talk about their feelings towards maths, and met the six learning providers from across the city who will be delivering free numeracy training courses over the next three years.
Lisa Capper MBE, Principal and CEO of Stoke on Trent College who are leading on the Stoke by Numbers campaign said “Many people have a phobia of maths, it’s a well-known fact for us in the UK.
“But understanding numbers and a little bit of maths is so important for every-day life: managing our bills, shopping, helping the kids with the homework and of course at work – you can really get on if you have numeracy skills.”
A Stoke-on-Trent City Council spokesperson said: “We want everyone in Stoke-on-Trent to feel confident with numbers, it is never too late to learn. Improving numeracy skills can help with many aspects of life, especially managing money. We would encourage anybody who feels unconfident to sign up’
To learn more about Stoke by Numbers, and find a learning location near you, visit www.stokebynumbers.co.uk
