National Numeracy Day on Wednesday 20 May 2026 will bring communities together to build brighter futures for all through number know-how.
Millions of people across the UK lack confidence when it comes to numbers. But that can change and a bit of mutual encouragement and support from your community can make a world of difference.
The benefits of good numeracy
This year, National Numeracy Day’s theme is ‘Count on Your Community’. We’ll be empowering communities, schools and organisations of all kinds across the UK to get number confident by taking part in The Big Number Natter – a nationwide conversation for children and adults about numbers, based right where you are!
The benefits of good numeracy are endless: it underpins all sorts of opportunities in life.
From getting a job or managing your money to helping your children with homework or feeling good about yourself, feeling confident to understand and use the numbers in daily life can be life-changing!
Whatever your goal, a little help from your friends can help you get started. From completing a Parkrun to making a weekly budget – a problem shared is a problem halved! And brushing up on your numbers is no different.
Numeracy starts local. Change starts together
Whatever and wherever you community is, we’re all in this together. You can improve how you feel about numbers and your community can help.
Your community might be in a place – your town or village. Or it might be a community of interest – your book club, faith group, running club or choir. It could be your school, workplace, or your family or friends. Or perhaps somewhere you get together – at the pub, social centre or online.
Anywhere you connect with others is your community. It is where people tend to learn best. If you can learn with and from others who feel just like you do, your confidence will grow.
National Numeracy Day is all about numbers in everyday life
Learning sticks when it’s connected to real situations — shopping, budgeting, work tasks, childcare, volunteering, or local projects. And that is what National Numeracy Day is all about: the numbers you use in everyday life!
So, this May, we’ll be encouraging everyone to share their experiences in the environments that offer you the most support – because communities know their needs and are best-placed to lead change of real value to its members.
Join the millions who have improved their numeracy
“Last year, people took over 1.2 million actions to improve their numeracy as part of National Numeracy Day and over 13,000 schools and organisations across the UK supported the campaign,” said Sam Sims, CEO of the charity National Numeracy.
“When communities count, everyone counts. This year, we invite you to be part of a movement putting local people at the heart of numeracy to bring about real, lasting change for individuals, communities and the UK as a whole,” Mr Sims added.
You will immediately receive:
- Access to free, helpful resources to start improving your numeracy.
- Schools will get access to loads of free curriculum-linked Family Maths Toolkit resources for use at school or to send home.
Nearer the time, you will receive:
- A toolkit to help you and your community take part.
- Schools will get a toolkit and range of exciting on-demand resources and full supporting material to help them take part.
- You will be the first to know about resources, activities and events for the day.
National Numeracy Day is a campaign run by the independent charity National Numeracy, backed by KPMG, the campaign’s founding supporter, and a host of pioneering businesses and organisations.
If you would like to find out more about the campaign, take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions.
Get in touch
If you are a business and would like to find out more about supporting National Numeracy Day, please contact: partnerships@nationalnumeracy.org.uk
If you would like to fundraise for us, check out our Donate or Fundraise page.
If you are a journalist with a media enquiry, please contact comms@nationalnumeracy.org.uk
If you would like to tell us your own story about numeracy, you can send us a message and have a look at our 'tell us' page.
