Are Numbers Getting In Your Way podcast series launched by Glasgow City Region
Glasgow City Region has collaborated with local community radio station Sunny Govan to introduce a new podcast series to support adults across the Region to be more number confident and to promote the free Multiply123 numeracy courses.
The first podcast of the series, which goes live on Friday 13 December 2024, provides guidance for parents to help their children with numbers, Maths and homework, encouraging numeracy learning from early years along with top tips and resources.
It features Principle Teachers, Karen Lewis and Amanda Hudson (pictured in the Sunny Govan studio) who work within a team at East Dunbartonshire Council to support adults to improve their confidence and skills in Maths and particular with parents of children in primary schools.
Said Karen:
“Numbers are everywhere in our daily lives, whether it is measuring ingredients for a meal, helping kids with Maths homework, doing your weekly food shop, looking at public transport timetables or budgeting your household bills. There’s no escaping them.
“It is estimated that one in ten people across the UK struggle with numeracy. And this is particularly true locally across Glasgow City Region which has a low ranking in the UK Numeracy Index for numeracy skills and confidence.”
The podcast also explores how Maths teaching in schools has changed dramatically over the past decade which can make it difficult for parents to support their children.
Continued Amanda:
“I’m keen to break down the stigma around those who struggle with Maths and numbers. Maths anxiety in adults and parents is real. It can cause a feeling of dread, panic and stress. A lot of parents don’t know where to begin helping with Maths homework. But they are not alone – this is a common fear.”
A range of useful tips and guidance for parents are provided and information on the free support available locally to overcome barriers with numbers. Details are also available online via a new tips and guidance for parents page available on the Multiply123 website.
Episode one will be played on Sunny Govan at 12pm on Friday 13 December and then goes live on Mixcloud at 1pm.
The overall podcast series aims to highlight the support available to adults across the Region, destigmatise fears about Maths and numbers, provide top tips and resources and to encourage people to talk about their struggles when it comes to numbers.
Future episodes will feature different hosts and guests, and will include advice on managing your finances, budgeting, debt and energy consumption, with related tips and guidance available online.
Sunny Govan Radio Director, Steg Gilfoyle said:
“We’re thrilled to support the launch of this podcast as part of Sunny Govan’s commitment to empowering local voices and fostering meaningful community engagement. This initiative highlights the importance of building essential skills like numeracy in creative and accessible ways, showing how numbers play a role in everyday life.
“For over 22 years, Sunny Govan has been a platform for stories, creativity, and collaboration, and this podcast is another fantastic way to celebrate the diversity, talent, and resilience in our community. Tune in at 12pm on Friday to hear how we’re giving the community a voice and helping people develop skills that truly make a difference”
Each episode will feature people who share their personal struggle with numbers and how they have turned this around and made numbers work better for them.
Learner Courtney who features in the first podcast and who has attended free Multiply courses said:
“I’ve learned how to be more independent with my money, have more confidence, and get better at budgeting and saving the money that I have.
This will help me with getting jobs, or just in life in general as I grow older. Definitely do it. If you’re scared, that’s completely normal. You’ll get to know everybody, and you’ll get the confidence.”
The Multiply programme is funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. Multiply courses and activities are available for anyone aged 16 or over, and resident in Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Renfrewshire or Renfrewshire.
Multiply offers adults over the age of 16, access to free numeracy support and classes with a wide range of different courses suited to needs and capabilities. Multiply classes can be anything from budgeting, supporting children with Maths homework, improving everyday numbers or Maths skills, or getting an SQA qualification to progress in your career.
Visit www.multiply123.co.uk for details or call 0808 171 3030.
