Funding for adult numeracy skills

Over £950,000 has been made available to Dundee City Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to help boost adult numeracy skills.

The Multiply programme is a ring-fenced funding stream of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund focused on supporting adults aged 19 plus and is being led by the council’s Neighbourhood Services.

Councillors will be asked to approve a mixed delivery model of plans to be rolled out across the city which would see the recruitment of three Community Learning and Development employees, a £176,000 Challenge Fund available to third sector partners, and the proposed allocation of up to £400,000 until 2025 to a further education provider to deliver key aspects of the proposed Multiply interventions.

Neighbourhood Services Committee Convener Heather Anderson said: “This additional funding is welcomed. It will go far in transforming individuals’ lives, as well as benefit local businesses and the wider city in time.

“Numeracy skills impact on our daily lives and we, perhaps, underestimate the importance of them.

“By adopting this suite of measures, we can help to develop the maths skills of many in the city and start them on exciting journeys which will make positive changes to their work and life prospects.

“With the current cost of living crisis, having the skills to manage personal household budgets and the ability to develop new skills to enhance employment opportunities has never been more important.”

The success of the Multiply programme is to be measured on:

• more adults achieving a maths qualification/participation in numeracy courses leading to:
  • Improved labour market outcomes;
  • Increased adult numeracy across the population.

If approved, three new Community Learning and Development staff will work directly with learners, including parents, those who want a first step towards a numeracy qualification, and individuals enrolled in city employability programmes, to help improve their confidence in everyday numeracy.

A £176,000 Challenge Fund would open to local third sector partners to enhance or extend existing provision to reach and engage with more adults in numeracy learning activities.

Additionally, the proposals recommend that Councillors approve plans to award a contract to a further education provider to deliver key and specific aspects of the proposed Multiply Adult Numeracy Programme interventions.

The Neighbourhood Services Committee will meet to discuss the plans on Monday 24^th April.

Progress on the delivery of the UKSPF Investment Plan, including the Multiply Adult Numeracy Programme, will be reported annually to the council’s City Development Committee.

• Share this page:
• Share On Twitter
• Share On Facebook
• Share On LinkedIn