Faced with the alarming fact that half of the UK's working-age population has the numeracy skills expected of a primary school child, National Numeracy Day 2024 is a critical campaign that aims to boost the nation's basic numeracy skills and, as a result, foster greater financial literacy across the country.
 

Low numeracy increases vulnerability to debt, fraud, unemployment, and lower wage levels, contributing to up to £25 billion each year in lost earnings. It is one of the greatest barriers to financial inclusion and has been described by the Financial Conduct Authority as the largest consumer vulnerability affecting the nation. Crucially, a person’s numeracy level is the strongest predictor of financial literacy with 34% of all adults having either low or poor levels of numeracy involving financial concepts¹.

At National Numeracy, our mission is to empower children and adults in the UK to get on with numbers so they can access more opportunities and fulfil their potential at work, home, and school. We target disadvantaged communities, where the need is greatest and where improving numeracy can act to drive social mobility. We also know numeracy has a vital role in boosting financial literacy – it means having the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and confidence to use numbers to make informed decisions in everyday life including feeling more in control of financial decision-making and saving.

For many, this can be a vital first step towards improving their abilities to manage their money and their financial literacy.  

Featuring events across the country, real-life stories and famous faces including TV presenter and author Kati Piper, Journalist and Interior Design Masters judge Michelle Ogundehin, wildlife TV presenter and conservationist Chris Packham CBE, and illustrator and children’s writer Sir Quentin Blake. National Numeracy Day is the perfect opportunity to support your customers and colleagues in improving their everyday numeracy skills and confidence through a host of fun and free activities.

Find out more about what's going on this year

There are lots of ways to get involved in the campaign:

• Take the National Numeracy Challenge – our free, easy-to-use online tool that anyone can use to improve their confidence with numbers, in their own time and at their own pace. (https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/challenge/)
• Hold a Big Number Natter with your colleagues – Love it or loathe it, we all have something to say about maths! Check out our resources to get your colleagues nattring about numbers this May. (https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/numeracyday/big-number-natter)
• Boost the numeracy of any children in your care with our fun and free resources - from dancing with Katya Jones, baking with Peter Sawkins, to money actvites with Mr. Money Jar, there are loads of ways for children to have fun with numbers this Natonal Numeracy Day. For children 3-11:
  https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/numeracyday/children, for children 11+: https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/numeracyday/children-11plus.

Join us in making a difference this National Numeracy Day! For partnership opportunities or more details, reach out to National Numeracy at partnerships@natonalnumeracy.org.uk.

¹ Financial Conduct Authority (2022) Financial Lives Survey 2022: Key Findings. Available at: https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/financial-lives/financial-lives-survey-2022-key-findings.pdf (Accessed: 20 May 2024)