The Multiply Programme has recently been announced by the government as a scheme to support adults in improving their numeracy skills.
Multiply will help to boost confidence and assist individuals with career progression whilst supporting the government's levelling up mission to ensure that by 2030, the number of people successfully completing high-quality skills training will have increased.
In total, £270 million is being allocated nationally, of which Cumbria has been allocated £2.3 million to be used over the next three financial years.
Background
Multiply has been developed in response to the following statements and needs:
- 17 million adults in England (half of the working-age population) have the numeracy skills of primary school children.
- People who improve their numeracy skills are more likely to be in employment, have higher wages, and better wellbeing.
- Improved numeracy matters to businesses by helping boost productivity and improve employee retention.
- Need to raise awareness on the importance of good numeracy for getting on in life.
- Need to de-mystify maths by putting it into everyday, relatable contexts, and help boost adults' confidence with numbers and make training more accessible.
- Need to enable providers to deliver courses that better fit around the needs of adults.
Who is it aimed at?
The free numeracy interventions/courses are for:
- Cumbria residents aged 19+
- Individuals that have not achieved a maths GCSE of at least a Grade C or equivalent.
- Individuals who may want to develop numeracy skills for work or progression.
- Individuals that want to brush up and develop their numeracy skills for everyday life.
Multiply - delivery partners
Multiply launched in September 2022 and Cumbria County Council is looking to develop a range of partnerships with organisations to deliver high quality, innovative numeracy interventions that meet the needs of local people and the national aims for Multiply. Some of these interventions will lead to attainment of a qualification, but non-qualification provision should also be developed where more appropriate.
Local education providers, employers, community development centres, employability support organisations, job centres, voluntary and community sector organisations can apply for grant funding to deliver interventions by completing an application form in line with the Multiply Grant Specification. These documents are included here:
- Multiply Grant Application Specification (PDF 179KB)
- Multiply Grant Application Form (DOCX 2.1MB)
- Multiply Funding Planning Tool (XLSM 63KB)
Completed applications will need to be returned by email to adultlearning@cumbria.gov.uk. We will inform applicants when the next round of evaluations will take place. Notification of successful and unsuccessful applications (including confirmation of values) will be sent by email shortly after bids have been evaluated.
Any questions relating to completion of the Application Form or using the Funding Planning Tool should be sent to adultlearning@cumbria.gov.uk. We will respond to all questions by email or telephone call.
