Multiply is a new government-funded programme to help adults over the age of 19 to improve their numeracy skills and increase confidence with numbers.

Do you struggle with numeracy and want to improve your number skills?

Numbers play a big part in our daily lives and many of us say we're not numbers people.

We don't feel confident and lack basic numeracy skills. From paying bills, to shopping, planning a journey, or even cooking - we use numbers every single day without realising it.

Does needing to do numeracy at work or home worry you? If it does, then you are not alone. 57% of England’s adults have low numeracy skills.

Adults across South Yorkshire who want to improve their numeracy skills can sign up for FULLY FUNDED courses and activities thanks to an £7.26million investment aimed at boosting opportunities for more people to progress and secure well paid jobs.

Here at City of Doncaster Council, we are investing over £1.2 million in government funding, to provide FULLY FUNDED courses and support over the next year to help you.

What is the Multiply programme

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has been awarded the cash boost from the government’s £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund so they can offer tailored courses that meet the needs of the local community as part of the rollout of the government’s flagship Multiply programme.

Multiply can help you build your numeracy skills, so that you can:

• improve your job prospects and life chances
• help your children with schoolwork
• make you feel more confident managing your household budgets
• make more sense of facts in the media
• improve your numeracy skills specific to your line of work

Programmes are funded by Multiply provided by the Authority. Led by Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard, The Authority brings together the local authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, and the private sector through our Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The Mayor, MCA and LEP have a shared purpose to create stronger, greener, fairer South Yorkshire. They work together to unlock the potential of our people, businesses and places and ensure they prosper.

Who can access this support?

Multiply will offer Doncaster residents aged 19 and above, who may or may not already have a GCSE grade C/4 or higher in Maths or equivalent and need to improve their numeracy skills, FULLY FUNDED flexible courses that fit around their lives.

Where are the courses running and how can I get involved?

There will be several FULLY FUNDED courses running across Doncaster this year. Please keep visiting this page to find out what we have on offer and where the courses are.

FIND A MULTIPLY COURSE

Please use this link to register your interest in our courses/workshops:

APPLY FOR A MULTIPLY COURSE

What have learners said about their Multiply experience?

Feedback has highlighted that within the last 2 years, learners have raised their career aspirations by attending Multiply workshops and upskilling within their current job role, especially from a numeracy digital skills element, which supports the findings of the Local Skills Improvement Plan. 

It was also identified that Individuals who received career guidance have either moved into full time employment, further learning or gained confidence, which has helped them to be one step closer to the labour market, which in turn supports Doncaster’s Education and Skills Strategy 2030. 

Here’s just some of the feedback we have received from previous courses:

“The Enterprise Course – great to meet other creatives, got me thinking more of how I want to turn my art into a business. Want to explore further and look at setting up on Etsy and even look at setting up art/nature workshops via a CIC”.

“I came to the course because I like making things and made lots of friendships. It’s got me out of the house, not only to make my cards but it has given me an interest. I am very grateful. I hope there will be more sessions to come!”

“Enjoyed learning new skills and very excited to learn more in the future. New friends, sharing ideas, making connections”.

Information for businesses

Employers, you could benefit from boosting your workforce’s skills by working with us to deliver functional skills qualifications or programmes tailored to the needs of your workforce.

We can help deliver instant real-world application of maths including:

• Budgeting Completing
• Timesheets
• Finance Claims
• Manipulating Data
• Building Confidence with Numbers
• Or whatever application suits your business need

Please get in touch with us to discuss how we can help you and your workforce by emailing multiply@doncaster.gov.uk

Multiply-Business-Flyer

Download (827KB - PDF)

What achievements have we had to date?

Within the last 2 years we have engaged with over 2200 Doncaster residents including over 150 refugees and over 400 residents with Special educational needs.

We have worked with over 60 providers inclusive of CIC's, educational establishments, various primary schools and local businesses across the city who have enrolled over 1,200 Doncaster residents on to a range of over 30 different courses.

View our dedicated Multiply infographic for a breakdown of the achievements to date.

What support have we offered to date?

We have given the following organisations at least £5,000 to deliver the Multiply programme in South Yorkshire during 2022/2023 and 2023/2024:

What is available following your Multiply sessions?

• Search for further Multiply workshops using the "Find a Multiply course" button above.
• Contact multiply@doncaster.gov.uk for 1:1 bespoke support.
• Refer to our Directory of Useful Services as a guide to other council and external organisation support teams to find out what they have on offer for you.

National Numeracy - Getting on with Numbers

National Numeracy was established as an independent charity in 2012 to help raise low levels of numeracy among both adults and children and to promote the importance of everyday maths skills.

They challenge negative attitudes, influence public policy and offer practical ways to help adults and children improve their numeracy.

By working with communities, employers and teachers, they want to enable everyone across the UK to be confident and competent with using numbers and data, so they can make good decisions in their daily lives.

They are working towards their aim in two main ways:

• Raising awareness about poor numeracy levels which exist in the UK, how numeracy differs from mathematics, and promoting the recognition that everyone can improve through campaigns such as National Numeracy Day.
• Improving numeracy - more than 500,000 people have registered to check and improve their maths skills with the National Numeracy Challenge, giving them a space to assess and learn at their own pace.

Both these linked pages are filled with lots of information regarding numeracy but also lots of hints and tips, quizzes and resources for schools, parents, and individuals to use for FREE! 

Please visit the National Numeracy Day page to also find out how you can get involved in this years events.

Join National Numeracy for Number Confidence Week - (4th-8th November 2024)

It’s simple: life is harder if you don't feel confident with numbers.  For this year’s Number Confidence Week, they're tackling the glaring link between gender and number confidence.

Number Confidence Week seeks to change that by empowering people to build their confidence, and unlock new opportunities.

This year, they want to tackle the gender confidence gap that limits career options and social mobility, particularly for women. Through an inclusive campaign, the week will also highlight barriers men face, while helping all individuals to build their confidence and support each other.

To find out how you can get involved and access free resources etc. then please follow this link to Number Confidence Week.

National Numeracy Champions Training

UK charity National Numeracy are working in partnership with South Yorkshire Combined Authority (SYMCA) and the Council’s Multiply Team to offer employees fully funded spaces on their CPD accredited Numeracy Champion training programme.

The Numeracy Champion training programme is aimed at employees who support others in the workplace. Numeracy Champions don’t teach maths, but instead encourage others to feel more positive about numbers and get on at work. The programme will shine a light on the numeracy issue in the UK and aims to help Champions feel more confident to open up conversations around numeracy and gives them free resources to signpost onto. Through Champions, we can help people get on better with numbers and get on in life.

Why do we need numeracy champions?

The 2011 the Skills for Life Survey identified shocking levels of numeracy in the UK.

Innumeracy is a 'hidden' problem – some adults feel ashamed to admit they lack confidence or skills in numeracy.

• In a recent survey 31% of respondents said they are not a numbers person with women more likely to describe themselves this way (38%)
• And 25% of respondents said they would be deterred from applying for a job if it listed using numbers & data as a requirement.
• 78% of Adults are working below level 2 (GCSE Grade 4/C)
• 49% of adults have the numeracy skills expected of children at primary school
• Yorkshire and the Humber were in the top 3 areas within the UK of having the highest levels of need for improved numeracy skills and Doncaster & Barnsley were joint top within the Yorkshire & Humber region.

Maths anxiety is prevalent in our society, fear of numbers holds people back and stops them for engaging with learning as adults. Tackling fears around numbers is an important first step when engaging adults with maths.

Benefits of being a numeracy champion

• CPD accredited training programme, enhancing your own professional development.
• Exploring your own numeracy journey and how this can impact your everyday life.
• Opportunity to join a network of other champions across various industries to share best practices and collaborate.
• Access to resources, key messages, and further activities to support you in your role.
• Calendar of events for you to engage in
• Ongoing support and continued relationship with National Numeracy to help you to support numeracy within your workplace.

Here’s a link to a short video which describes what a Numeracy Champion is.

The dates of the upcoming Numeracy Champion training programmes are as follows, and here’s the link for you to register for a free place.

Supporting Adults

Tuesday 5th & 12th November 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Wednesday 13th & 20th November 9:30am - 11:30am

Tuesday 26th November & 3rd December 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Friday 6th & 13th December 9:30am - 11:30am

Supporting Families

Friday 8th & 15th November 9:00am - 11:00am 

Monday 2nd & 9th December 1:00pm - 3:00pm

DON'T DELAY BOOK YOUR PLACE TODAY!

Other useful links

Adult, Family and Community Learning - City of Doncaster Council - AFCL offer a variety of free courses to help you improve both your English and Mathematics skills.

Doncaster SEND - Doncaster’s online source of information about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) for children and young people, aged 0-25 years. 

Remake Learning Days Doncaster - Remake Learning Days is an initiative that started in America to inspire minds and spark curiosity and passion by bringing learning outside of the classroom. 

Multiply - Skills for Life – further information regarding the Multiply programme.

Doncaster College - Study and development options for adults aged 19+.

 

 

 

 

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