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Our impact: National Numeracy Day 2024

31 Jul 2024

In 2024 we achieved unprecedented impact with our most diverse, inclusive and place-based National Numeracy Day yet.

Over 2 million actions have now been taken to improve numeracy since the campaign began in 2018.

Read the report

National Numeracy Day 2024 impact report cover

This seventh campaign saw National Numeracy Day go on the road for the first time, with events in communities across the UK helping children and adults alike to feel more equipped with the skills they need at home, work and in school.

We put a comprehensive community engagement plan in place, to ensure we reached those with greatest need in their own communities, settings and spaces – both in person, and online.

Our approach included a multifaceted digital strategy, a targeted media campaign featuring exclusive content with the Mirror and ITV, and impactful in-person events coordinated with our network of local authorities. Plus, our ambitious corporate volunteering programme reached 4,400 children in person. This holistic effort ensured that we connected with even the hardest-to-reach people, significantly broadening our impact.

We tackled neurodiversity with not one but two Big Number Natters that centred on differing perspectives of having dyscalculia. Plus, National Numeracy's Iain Evans held a Big Number Natter with Performing Arts students from Derwen College, a specialist college for young adults with special educational needs and disabilities, to discuss how maths fits into their vocational work and lives.

And this year we were proud to introduce a significant milestone: a suite of free resources available in Welsh, to ensure inclusivity from Snowdonia to Swansea, for adults and children alike.

The 643,000 actions taken to support numeracy in 2024 included:

  • 11,528 organisations and individuals who signed up to support the day, including 8,933 schools and education providers
  • 12,344 Number Heroes competition entries
  • 5,985 children joining our live event
  • 569 media mentions
  • 79 million print and broadcast reach
  • 2 billion online readership
  • 48% increase in search traffic to our website
Children raising hands in class

This all added up to incredible impact on our beneficiaries, with our post-campaign survey* revealing that:

  • Prior to the campaign, 49% of adults and 46% of children who responded were reluctant to engage with numbers
  • 57% of respondents now have more awareness of how numbers are used in daily life
  • 48% now think more positively about numbers
  • 34% feel more prepared to use numbers in daily life
  • 95% would recommend the National Numeracy Day campaign to a friend or colleague
  • 78% are likely to use the resources throughout the year
  • 88% are likely to get involved with National Numeracy Day next year

* Survey response: 11,716 people were sent an email, resulting in 407 responses – a response rate of just over 3%.

Suzie with an adult at an event

And we couldn’t do it alone…

Helping get the word out was our Founding Supporter KPMG, our wonderful group of lead supporters and delivery partners, local authorities across the country, thousands of schools, colleges and organisations, and our amazing celebrity ambassadors.

We also partnered with the Mirror on our new research into young adults’ maths and mental health, and ITV’s Loose Women tackled the gender divide when discussing our research and Denise Welch’s own fear of maths.

Loose Women discussing "Are you 'number-phobic'?"

National treasures Sir Quentin Blake and Chris Packham lent their voices to the Big Number Natter, alongside journalist and Loose Woman Kaye Adams and influencer Stage Door Johnny to get the nation talking about numbers.

And there was support from politicians right across the Houses of Parliament, who actively championed the campaign. The widespread political endorsement ensured that National Numeracy Day resonated at both local and national levels.

Chris Packham saying "It's never too late to get better at numeracy!"

A heartfelt thank you

Getting on with numbers is truly transformative, and in 2024 National Numeracy made a huge contribution to the nation’s numeracy.

Sam Sims, National Numeracy Chief Executive said:

“This year, through a series of in-person events and a laser-focused digital and media strategy, we have raised awareness about the importance of numeracy, especially among historically harder-to-reach communities. Our work has empowered countless individuals to improve their numeracy and confidence.

“Together, we have made great strides in making numeracy accessible and engaging for everyone. We are very grateful for the incredible support of our partners. To the campaign’s founding supporter, KPMG, our lead supporters, delivery partners, ambassadors, the schools and organisations that signed up to support the day, and the many people who shared their own maths journey to inspire others, a heartfelt thank you.”

Bina Mehta, Chair of KPMG UK, Founding Supporter of National Numeracy Day, said:

“As a member of the National Numeracy Leadership Council, working with fellow business leaders to drive numeracy up the national agenda, it’s been fantastic to see engagement with the campaign increase year on year. There are no quick fixes, and to drive sustainable change, it will require focus over the longer term and collaboration – as individuals, businesses, policy makers, and education leaders.

“To mark National Numeracy Day 2024, I chaired a panel with Andy Haldane, Charles Randell CBE, and Iona Bain to discuss the importance of numeracy and its impact on life outcomes, business, and society. Their message was clear: Businesses have a crucial role to play in improving numeracy levels, and by addressing our nation’s relationship with numeracy, we can become a more prosperous, financially inclusive, and socially mobile society.

“National Numeracy and KPMG co-founded National Numeracy Day in 2018 with the goal of building a more numerate nation. Over 300 KPMG colleagues volunteered to support this year’s campaign through 17 events, reaching thousands of young people across the UK.

“Together, we are making numeracy count.”

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