Graham Stuart, Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, visited the SHoRes Centre in Withernsea to learn how they are helping 140 people to gain vital life skills.
This is possible because of Multiply, a £559 million Government initiative to improve numeracy skills across the UK. It offers adults who do not already have a GCSE Grade C/4 in Maths a free flexible course to brush up on the important skills they need to improve their lives and employment prospects.
From this initiative, East Riding Council has received £1.5 million which has supported 285 people so far. Of these, 140 people have signed up through SHoRes Centre in Withernsea.
Through SHoRes’ work on this programme with local people and the Credit Union, fewer people now rely on the foodbank and more people are motivated to engage in lifelong learning. This is because Jayne Nendick, Chief Executive of SHoRes, is using the programme to give people an opportunity to both receive a Maths GCSE and develop their everyday maths skills.
To encourage interest in the initiative, Jayne gave people who signed up to the course up to five £5 vouchers to spend in the SHoRes pantry on fresh food. They use the vouchers to practise budgeting and create meals for themselves. By showing people the value of good maths skills in everything they do, it encourages them to pursue a formal qualification.
South East Holderness Ward Councillors Sean McMaster and Lyn Healing commented: “The SHoRes centre in Withernsea has done some amazing work over the years. Work that we hope will continue for many years to come. This new adult learning programme will go a long way towards helping those in the community of Withernsea. A programme that we as local representatives are in full support of.”
Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart said: “We owe it to everyone to make sure we all have the skills we need to succeed in life. Once again the incomparable Jayne Nendick is doing Withernsea proud by boosting numeracy skills for those who most need it across the town. I can’t imagine Withernsea without her.”
