Donate or fundraise
We want every person in the UK to reach a level of numeracy that allows them to meet their full potential.
We believe that this is possible but we need your support to help make this happen.
We're in the grip of a numeracy crisis
Did you know that around half of working-age adults in the country are estimated to have the numeracy level expected of a primary school child?
And it's costing the UK up to £25 billion each year. But the true cost is far deeper than financial – it's about people being held back in life due to a lack of confidence in using numbers. When you struggle with numbers, things like following medical advice, managing bills, or understanding a news report become frustrating and overwhelming. These challenges can lead to debt, anxiety, and lost opportunities at work.
How National Numeracy helps:
- Numeracy for work: We help people gain the confidence and skills needed to get into or on at work, and to progress into sustainable careers.
- Supporting children: We work with schools, parents and carers across the UK to improve numeracy levels and attitudes towards maths.
- Money management: We help build the numeracy needed to take control of spending, saving and planning for the future.
We need your support
If we don’t act now, the effects of low numeracy will continue to ripple across generations, perpetuating cycles of disadvantage. But with your help, we can stop this cycle. Your support will enable National Numeracy to reach even more people, especially in disadvantaged communities, and give them the confidence and skills they need to thrive.
Whether it’s through a donation, fundraising effort, or simply spreading the word, you can make a difference.
Other ways you can help
Fundraise
Have some fun in aid of a good cause! Why not organise a bake sale, tackle a fear or get dressed up to raise money for National Numeracy? Check out our fundraising ideas and information below.
Donate through your wages
Give as much as you like, tax free. Ask your employer about payroll giving.
Sponsor us
If your company is interested in corporate sponsorship please get in touch with us at [email protected] or call us on 01273 915 044.
Our impact
For over a decade, National Numeracy has been tackling low numeracy head-on, working tirelessly to transform attitudes and skills across the UK. Our efforts have shown that with the right support, anyone can improve their numeracy and boost their confidence. And when people become more confident with numbers, they open doors to better jobs, financial security, and greater self-reliance.
Our work is about more than just improving maths skills – it’s about giving people the tools they need to succeed and thrive. By helping individuals build confidence in everyday maths, we’re helping them take control of their futures.
Fundraising ideas
There are loads of ways to fundraise for National Numeracy, and every donation will help us build a world where everyone has the confidence to succeed with numbers.
Here are some popular ideas to get you started:
- Get active: Go the extra mile to inspire your friends, family and colleagues to donate; why not try a race or sporting event? Or take on a steps challenge as a team to meet a combined distance or fundraising target. This can be a great way to engage teammates across the country.
- Get brave: Our beneficiaries face their fear of numeracy every day, so why not fundraise for them by facing your own fears? Could you brave a challenge like a skydive, abseil or an ambitious fitness goal?
- Get baking: Dust off your aprons and flaunt your baking skills with a classic fundraising bake sale. Get inspired with Great British Bake Off winner and National Numeracy ambassador Peter Sawkins’ easy-to-bake scone recipe.
- Get rid: Clear up your clutter and donate your earnings to National Numeracy! It’s easy to sell second-hand online, via Vinted, Facebook Marketplace and eBay, or in-person at a good old car boot sale.
- Get dressed up: Encourage your work team to dress up for the day and earn some donations for National Numeracy. You could choose a theme and collect donations from participants and spectators.
- Get giving through payroll: Automate a monthly donation through your workplace payroll or pension via the ‘give as you earn’ initiative. The donations are taken from your pay/pension before income tax is applied, making it a tax-effective way to give. Speak to your employer about this as they will need to set up the scheme through a payroll giving agency. Find more information here.
Start and shout about your fundraising!
Once you’ve chosen your fundraising activity, it’s time to get started!
Unless you’re collecting cash, we recommend using JustGiving to manage your fundraising, with these top tips:
- Make your JustGiving page personal. You could talk about your own experience with maths, share one of our case studies, or facts that have moved you. Remember that one in two people struggle with low numeracy, and a third of people are anxious about numbers, so there could be a lot of people that relate and are inspired to donate.
- Set a target to keep you motivated and encourage your supporters to help. Having a goal makes it much easier to maintain your fundraising efforts.
- Add photos of you and your fundraising efforts to jazz up your page!
- Through Gift Aid, donations get even bigger! UK taxpayers can increase their donation by 25% without any personal cost. JustGiving makes it really simple for donors to select this option.
- Make sure to follow JustGiving's Terms of Service.
Whatever you are doing to fundraise, make sure you shout about it!
- Let your friends, family, colleagues and community know about your plans.
- If you’re using JustGiving, share the link widely with your network. Why not add a link in your email signature?
- Celebrate your fundraising efforts on social media.
- Say thank you to your donors! Any donor will appreciate a thank-you to let them know they have helped a good cause and are appreciated.
How to donate the money you have raised
We would be hugely grateful for any donations to help us support our beneficiaries.
Take your pick from these options to donate to National Numeracy:
- Via our JustGiving page. This can be automated through your own JustGiving donation page or you can make donations directly here.
- Directly into our bank account. Please contact [email protected] for details.
If you are wanting to make a donation from yourself of £500 or more, then we would encourage you to give directly into our bank account as this reduces the amount of fees we have to pay. We will then send you a gift aid form directly.
Do not send cash donations in the post. Please contact [email protected] and we will consider the best way to get the cash to us on a case-by-case basis.
Keep your fundraising safe & legal
Accessibility & Inclusion
When carrying out fundraising events, we encourage you to ensure that these events are inclusive and accessible to all participants. This can be done in many ways, for example, if you are carrying out a fundraising event within a venue, check to see if there is step-free access and wheelchair accessible toilets.
Data protection
All data collected by National Numeracy is collected in compliance with our Privacy Policy which can be found here: https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/privacy-policy
If you are collecting personal information as part of your fundraising activity then please ensure you are adhering to all GDPR guidelines.
Environment
When participating in fundraising, we encourage you to minimise environmental impact by recycling, reusing, reducing and refusing. You can do this by doing things like avoiding single-use plastic (like balloons), and reducing travel emissions to and from fundraising events.
First aid
There must be appropriate first aid support in place for any fundraising events. Advice regarding first aid can be found on the St John’s Ambulance website and the British Red Cross website.
Food and drink
If you are fundraising with food, follow the Foods Standards Agency guidelines on food preparation, storage, display and cooking on their website. Make sure that everyone involved has a good understanding of food hygiene.
Fundraisers who are under 18
Fundraisers under the age of 18 will need permission from a parent or carer to raise money for National Numeracy. The Fundraising Regulator provides guidance on the considerations that should be made when involving children in fundraising here.
Fundraising guidance
National Numeracy requires all fundraisers to ensure that every effort is conducted transparently, honestly, and in good faith, upholding the trust of our supporters and the integrity of our mission. For a clear guide on fundraising, get in touch with the Fundraising Regulator.
Health and safety
Minimise the risk of any fundraising activity by completing a Risk Assessment Form, a template can be found on the HSE website.
Insurance
If you are hosting a fundraising event at a venue then the venue may have their own insurance but you will need to check whether or not this covers the public. You cannot use National Numeracy’s public liability insurance for your own events and National Numeracy cannot accept any liability for the events you have organised, it is your responsibility to get the appropriate insurance coverage.
Photos
For any public events, please make everyone aware that photos will be taken and invite them to opt-out if they do not want to be included. Do not take photos of individuals if they have requested not to be included in photos.
Public fundraising
If you plan on fundraising in public, then you will need permissions for cash collections from the local authority, venue or property owner.
Raffles and lotteries
Through our work with beneficiaries we often see the link between low numeracy and gambling first hand. Therefore, we cannot accept fundraising donations raised through raffles and lotteries.
FAQs
Can I fundraise for National Numeracy?
Yes! Anyone can fundraise for us. Whatever challenge you want to set yourself we know you’ll smash it!
Can I use the National Numeracy logo?
Yes! You can use the National Numeracy logo for any fundraising activity as long as logo usage guidelines are followed. Please contact us at [email protected] for a link to the National Numeracy logo guidelines and to gain approval before printing any National Numeracy logos.
Does National Numeracy provide physical fundraising materials?
No. To reduce environmental waste and unnecessary costs we do not have any physical fundraising materials. However, you are welcome to use the National Numeracy logo on your own physical fundraising materials. Please contact us for sign-off before printing.
What happens if I can no longer do my fundraising event?
It’s ok! These things happen sometimes. Just get in touch with us and we will help in any way we can.
How can I speak to someone at National Numeracy?
Please give us a ring on 01273 915 044 or send an email to [email protected]
How can I find out more about National Numeracy?
Find us online, at www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk and on all social media platforms.
