A fund to support organisations to deliver activities or courses that will improve adults' understanding and use of maths has opened for applications.
The Multiply Workshop Fund is available to local sole traders, small businesses, community groups and other organisations to support the delivery of free, short-term workshops which will form part of a second Multiply Adult Learning Programme.
Organisations can apply for up to £3,000 to put towards the cost of developing activities that would allow adults to:
- feel more confident when using numbers in everyday life
- increase their confidence with numeracy
- improve their health and wellbeing through socialising, feeling included and learning a new skill or hobby.
The workshops should be suitable for any level, beginner to advanced, so that adults can sign up to an activity which allows them to learn at their own pace. Examples could include cookery, art, crafts, music, computing, orienteering or DIY.
The fund is open from 15 April to 11 May 2024. More information about the eligibility criteria and how to apply is available on our Multiply Workshop Fund page.
Councillor Leagh Douglas, Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning
“The first Adult Learning Programme was a hugely successful initiative with 115 residents from across the Borders taking part in a workshop of their choice. Feedback from providers was overwhelmingly positive with participants also confirming that not only had they increased their confidence with numbers, they experienced a greater sense of wellbeing from the opportunity to meet new people and learn a new skill.
“The team have made some refinements ahead of the second programme launching to ensure that participants and providers are able to gain even more benefit. One example is that they are hoping to offer workshops that will be suitable for families to attend and enjoy together.
“Once again, this is an exciting and worthwhile programme to be part of and I would encourage organisations to get their applications in as soon as they can.”
More information
- The Adult Learning Programme itself will run from 15 August 2024 to 28 February 2025. Applicants to the fund should ensure they can deliver their workshop within these dates before applying.
- Once the courses and activities are established, they will be opened up to anyone resident in the Borders looking to increase their confidence in using maths in their daily life, at home or at work. Information about how these can be accessed will be publicised in due course.
- Multiply is a UK Government funded programme, launched as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which aims to help transform the lives of adults by improving their numeracy skills.
If anyone has any queries or would like more information, these can be emailed to: multiply@scotborders.gov.uk