Thanks to the Every Londoner Counts initiative, funded by The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, this inspiring partnership has trained 61 DWP staff to become Numeracy Champions, equipping them with the tools to guide others on their numeracy journeys and foster positive change.
Expanding the Numeracy Champions training programme across London
National Numeracy first provided online Numeracy Champion training to the South London DWP team and it received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Inspired by this success, a South London Champion introduced the programme to Kam Patel, Partnership Manager for London and Essex, who saw its potential to make a huge impact.
Together, DWP and National Numeracy hosted engagement sessions that led to a surge in interest, with even more staff signing up to become Champions.
Now, there are 61 fully trained Numeracy Champions across DWP London, each committed to supporting others and creating a culture of confidence around numbers.
Exploring the right resources for different job roles
The partnership didn’t stop at Numeracy Champions training – ongoing support, workshops, and shared resources have become integral parts of the programme.
In March, an in-person workshop at Kennington Park Jobcentre brought Champions together to explore how numeracy skills could be applied in various roles, from work coaches to case managers.
Some Champions have the capacity to deliver “Time to Talk Numbers” sessions directly to claimants, while others are more likely to guide people towards the National Numeracy Challenge, a free online tool designed for adults to enhance everyday maths skills.
One of the main roles of a Numeracy Champion is to help support others with their number confidence and the workshop also explored how they could share their learnings from the training with other staff members to raise further awareness across the DWP of the resources available, including the National Numeracy Challenge. Some DWP Numeracy Champions even joined in with Big Number Natters for National Numeracy Day.
How to get involved with Numeracy Champions training
National Numeracy’s work with the DWP hasn’t ended yet – we are continuing to recruit and train Numeracy Champions until January 2025.
If you’re a member of the DWP team in London and would like to become a Numeracy Champion, you can register here.
What learners have to say about Numeracy Champions training
The impact of the Numeracy Champion training is best captured through the voices of those who’ve taken part.
Here’s what DWP London Champions had to say:
"I was worried I didn’t know enough about maths to be on this course, but it really opened my eyes, I absolutely loved it!"
“Before I attended, I wasn't sure I would get much out of it, but I have been pleasantly surprised. I will champion the support and help from National Numeracy and local authorities we work with.”
“I found the training really engaging, positive, and full of practical ideas.”
“It was a good workshop and made me think and start to have conversations with myself and others.”
“It was an extremely useful course, with so many ideas to take forward.”
As these Champions work to inspire others, the ripple effect of their training is already being felt across London.
By promoting number confidence, the DWP and National Numeracy are paving the way for personal and professional growth – because every Londoner counts.
