How Numeracy Champions can help their communities
Once trained, Numeracy Champions can provide support to their local communities and networks, having a significant social impact.
According to the UK Numeracy Index – a model that predicts and ranks areas of the UK by numeracy skills and confidence – of the 12 regions of the UK, the East Midlands ranks sixth, indicating that it is a region of higher numeracy need.
Some areas of the East Midlands are areas of high numeracy need, such as Nottingham, which is in the 99th percentile.
“At Experian, we are committed to improving people’s financial health and we know how interlinked number skills and confidence are with people's financial capability.
“Nottingham is our spiritual home and we are therefore incredibly proud to support Numeracy Champion training here in the East Midlands, helping build confidence, change mindsets, and create a numerically and financially literate society.” – James Jones, Head of Consumer Affairs, Experian
Placing Numeracy Champions across the community
We have placed Numeracy Champions in key community touchpoints including St Barnabas Hospice BEAM cafe (Building Engagement Around Mental Health), The Dyslexia Association and Ignite Futures.
These champions have direct contact with East Midlands residents who will greatly benefit from the attitudinal approach we embed in our Numeracy Champion programme supporting neurodiversity, maths anxiety and number confidence.
“Really pleased National Numeracy exists. They are doing some great work.” – Ignite Futures Numeracy Champion
The importance of numeracy for financial inclusion
We have trained individuals from organisations providing debt advice and financial wellbeing support, such as Direct Help & Advice, Heya, and the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS).
These Numeracy Champions have utilised the Nudge app and the attitudinal, confidence-building techniques from their training to support building number confidence for financial literacy.
“Really supportive environment, great facilitators and useful resources to take away.” – MaPs Numeracy Champion
We have also formed strong links with educational organisations and empowered them to further support their learners, including DBC Training, The Lenton Centre and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Within these organisations, Numeracy Champions have used our resources to effectively highlight the value of maths as a foundation for learning and the world of work.
East Midlands Numeracy Champions are regarded as trusted experts in their communities
The organisations and individuals we have targeted are perfectly placed within their communities as trusted experts, with local expertise and connections to best support these areas of high need.
Through the Numeracy Champion programme, we are able to engage with hard-to-reach beneficiaries, who trust the Champions as pre-existing mentors in their network, in order to challenge fixed mindsets around maths and to motivate and build number confidence.
“I have found myself flustered, stressed out about maths, and ashamed that learning maths has instigated emotions that I didn’t know were there.
“I have spoken to my tutor who has been extremely supportive. I intend to see it through and try and remain positive that I will succeed and obtain a better grade. I know maths matters.” – An East Midlands learner, who has accessed confidence-building support through our Numeracy Champion programme
Celebrating National Numeracy Day in the East Midlands
In May, as part of National Numeracy Day, we hosted our first ever community Big Number Natter session in Nottingham with our ambassador Bobby Seagull, The Dyslexia Association, local Numeracy Champions, the Nottingham Financial Resilience Partnership and Experian volunteers.
