by Tim Nuttall
Residents of Hornsea are being given an opportunity to improve their basic maths skills thanks to the launch of a learning scheme aimed at boosting confidence in numeracy.
Following the success of the programme in Withernsea, those living in Hornsea and the surrounding area are now being offered their own opportunity to access Multiply – a national initiative that aims to help people become more confident with the everyday application of maths.
These free numeracy awareness sessions can either function as a standalone entity, to help build basic confidence with numbers, or be used as a stepping stone to access additional maths courses with opportunities to gain qualifications.
Helping to bring Multiply to Hornsea is Jayne Nendick, CEO of Withernsea’s Shores Centre, who said: “Due to the success of the scheme in Withernsea, and thanks to the support of the Humber Learning Consortium and East Riding Council, we are delighted to help extend this provision further into Holderness.
“For many people, maths can be a very dull or intimidating subject. We’re surrounded by numbers every day which impact our lives, from banking and shopping, to weights and measurements – so having a basic understanding of maths is essential.
“With the Multiply scheme, and our introductory numeracy awareness sessions, we aim to offer direct and practical support which will help develop confidence in the daily application of maths.
“Looking at the current circumstances of what we’re all experiencing, with the cost of living crisis still biting hard, the ability to understand basic maths for the purposes of budgeting and making our money stretch further is essential.”
Following their launch last week, Multiply sessions will take place at the Hornsea Hub every Thursday throughout summer, between 10am and 2.30pm.
Through a total maximum engagement of two hours, participants will be encouraged to explore maths in a variety of contexts, from basic budgeting when shopping, to understanding weights and volumes when cooking.
To help put their learning into practice, those who sign up for involvement in the scheme will receive a voucher totalling £15 for use in a pop-up pantry that will operate alongside the Multiply sessions.
Jayne added: “The voucher for the pop-up pantry will help us demonstrate and teach the importance of budgeting, as learners will be tasked with spending the full value of their voucher on items, such as toiletries and tinned goods, which are available at discounted prices within our mobile community pantry.
“We are ultimately seeking to develop the mathematical life skills that are important in helping people to make their finances more efficient.
“Once people get an appetite for learning, we can signpost further opportunities for knowledge and skills development for the benefit of future employment and successful management of personal finances. In addition, the scheme allows for the referral learners into formal adult education.”
The expansion of the Multiply programme to Hornsea follows a successful 18-month period in the Withernsea area which has seen more than 350 people engage with the scheme, resulting in referrals to further learning opportunities, and support with saving and budgeting through the town’s Credit Union and Community Pantry.
The Multiply scheme forms part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). As a central element of the previous government’s Levelling Up agenda, the £2.6 billion national fund replaced the support that local authorities previously accessed through EU funding pots prior to the UK’s departure from the European Union.
Money allocated by the UKSPF has been directly invested into communities to support local business and develop skills and training in support of the Levelling Up mission. This funding aims to ensure that the number of people successfully completing high-quality skills and training will have significantly increased in every area of the UK by 2030.
East Riding Council received a total allocation of £10.4 million UKSPF funding, covering the period 2022-25. Just over £1.5 million of this has been allocated in support of the Multiply scheme throughout the same timeframe.
Multiply is open to residents of Hornsea, and the wider East Riding, who are aged 19 and upwards.
For further information, or to sign up, contact Shores on 01964 615190 or visit the adult learning bus at the Hornsea Hub every Thursday throughout the summer.
