Every child deserves a good education so they can access better opportunities in life.
Numeracy, like literacy, is a crucial part of this.
Yet many children have difficulties with maths, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. We are working to write a new story where every child counts!
Improving their maths can increase a child’s self-esteem and their involvement in education as a whole.
We currently partner with over 40 state primary schools across London, where our trained volunteers run weekly one-to-one sessions for the children most in need of support.
Over a full school year, our volunteers use maths games and other creative activities to make the sessions fun and engaging so that each child gains in confidence and is inspired to learn.
‘One of the best moments for me, as our school’s maths lead, was overhearing a child get called to his [Number Champions] intervention, and him cheering and saying that it was the best part of his day!’
Partner school, Barnet
The most effective way to help those who do not ‘get’ maths is to provide support at an early stage, so we help children aged six to eight (School Years 2 and 3).
Over 1,300 children have already benefitted from our highly successful programme.
I joined in the spring term of last academic year and was assigned to work with two lovely year 3 girls. They clearly struggled with confidence but through encouragement and talking with them using techniques I learnt through the Number Champions training session, I think they grew to view themselves as more capable. I was talking with one of the girls near the end of the year while doing a game for bonds to 100 and I said that she had gotten very quick at this and she simply responded “I know, I learnt from the best”. The shy girl who I first met who hated maths and didn’t think she was good at it, now knew that she could be.
Number Champions volunteer
I had my first session at [the school] today. I absolutely loved it, it was the highlight of my day, and I’m really excited to go back next week. It was amazing to see [the children’s] confidence grow even after just doing 5-10 minutes of maths. Helping them with the most basic maths skills and watching that “I get it” moment was incredibly rewarding.
Number Champions volunteer
We have won awards from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Royal Volunteer Service and been recognised in the Charity Governance Awards.
Our volunteers are all ages, with over 60 different countries of birth, and a variety of professional backgrounds including:
. . . Dress designer, IT consultant, Music teacher, Caterer, Physiotherapist, Electrical engineer, Home maker, Nurse, Music producer, Investment banker, Customer service officer, Entrepreneur, Full time parent, Teaching assistant, Retiree, Maths lecturer, EFL teacher, Accountant, Care assistant, TV editor, Pharmacist, Administrator, Water engineer . . .
