Multiply Scheme A Success - Hull City Council

Hull City Council is celebrating the outstanding achievements of its Multiply programme, which aims to enhance adults' numeracy skills. Now in its second year, the programme has far exceeded initial expectations, underscoring its effectiveness and transformative impact on the community.

Exceeding Expectations

The Multiply programme, designed to improve numeracy among adults, has surpassed its original targets by a staggering 338% in terms of learner participation. Funded by the Department for Education (DfE), this initiative offers free courses to adults aged 19 and over who lack a Level 2 maths qualification. Its primary goal is to build confidence with numbers, a skill essential for both personal and professional growth.

Diverse Interventions for Comprehensive Learning

The success of Multiply can be attributed to its diverse and targeted interventions, which cater to various learning needs:

• Foundational Courses: These courses aim to boost confidence in basic numeracy.
• Financial Literacy: Helps participants manage their finances more effectively.
• Workplace Numeracy: Developed with employers to address specific job-related skills.
• Intensive Courses: Lead to Functional Skills Qualifications, essential for certain jobs.
• Support for Parents: Assists parents in improving their own skills and in helping their children.
• Aid for Prisoners and Recent Releases: Provides essential numeracy skills to aid reintegration.
• Young Adults Exiting Care: Tailored courses to support young adults transitioning out of the care system.

Community Partnerships

Multiply’s success is also due to its strong partnerships with local community organizations. These partnerships ensure the programme reaches the most challenging to reach learners. Key collaborators include the Humber Learning Consortium, Hull Culture and Leisure, Goodwin Development Trust, Hull Training and Adult Education, Hull Maritime Museum, and Learning & Development.

Programme officer and contract manager for Multiply, Claudia Carrizo-Smallwood, expressed her joy:

“I am ecstatic with Year 2’s results. I am so proud of everyone who collaborated on Multiply to make it an incredible success and I want to thank all the partners for their hard work. We knew we had done well, but it wasn’t until my performance review with the Department of Education that we realised the extent of our achievement. I am truly blown away by this accomplishment.”

A Strong Focus on the Future

The third year of the programme began on April 1st, with a continued focus on expanding its reach and supporting more learners across Hull. Councillor Linda Tock, portfolio holder for Hull Training at the council, highlighted the importance of community relationships in achieving these results:

“The success we celebrate today is a testament to the strong relationships we have built with our stakeholders in and around the city, as well as their connections with the local communities they serve. It's remarkable that a small city has achieved such outstanding Multiply results nationally. We extend our gratitude to the individuals and organisations that have facilitated our project activities.”

Looking Ahead

As the Multiply programme approaches its final year, the aim is to surpass previous accomplishments, making numeracy fun and accessible to those who might otherwise avoid maths. An end-of-year celebration is planned to honor the achievements, and all participants will be invited to join the festivities.

The council looks forward to recognizing the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in this successful initiative.