Inverclyde Council seeks volunteers to help people with 'everyday numbers'

VOLUNTEERS are being urged to stand up and be counted for an Inverclyde Council-run project which is helping local people become more confident with numbers.

Multiply helps people aged 19 and above learn more about numbers in everyday life, and supports them in understanding numbers in contexts that are relevant to them.

The free project is funded through the UK government shared prosperity fund (levelling up fund) and managed through Glasgow City region.

Susan Whyte, senior community learning and development worker for Multiply, said the team are keen to take on volunteers who can help people across all walks of life.

She added: "The project isn't about sums and maths - it's about working with and understanding numbers in a range of different settings.

"We start engaging with numbers from the minute we open our eyes in the morning and they're around us all the time.

"For people who aren't confident with numbers, that can be really intimidating.

"We're looking for volunteers who can help people learn what they want to and what they need to.

"There is no typical learner, and no typical volunteer."

(Image: George Munro)
Multiply helps people increase their confidence with concepts including handling money and coin recognition, household bills, online shopping, bus timetables, bank balances, sell-by dates, and estimation/guesstimation.

Volunteers are matched to learners depending on their skills, and work together in one-to-one and group settings.

Retired engineer Alan Drewery, 72, has been volunteering with Inverclyde community learning and development for the last seven years, and got involved with Multiply last August.

He said making learning activities meaningful for learners is vital.

Alan added: "Working with numbers can be quite abstract so it's important to set things in context for people.

"We work on the practical everyday application of numbers which helps people feel confident and allows them to make informed choices."

Alan says the best part of volunteering is seeing people progress with their lives.

Alan added: "There's definitely a degree of job satisfaction.

"By putting something back into the community, I'm helping to build skills within the community.

"It enhances lives and there are only positives."

To find out more about volunteering email cld.admin@inverclyde.gov.uk or call 01475 715450.