Multiply project looking for volunteers
A national programme which helps demystify numbers is looking for more volunteers in Inverclyde.
Multiply supports people who want to understand numbers better through one-to-one or group learning sessions.
Alan Drewery has volunteered with the council’s Community Learning and Development team for the last seven years and got involved with Multiply last August.
A retired engineer, he is confident with numbers but understands that isn’t the case for everyone.
He said: “People are bombarded with data now, I can understand people may wonder what it all means.
“It’s about unlocking the key and finding out what interests the person and giving the numbers context.”
Alan said he enjoys volunteering and would urge others to give it a go.
He added: “It’s about putting something back into the community which I think is important.
“I get a degree of self-satisfaction when I see somebody progressing. It also gives structure to my life doing something like this.”
Multiply is not just sums, it’s about understanding everyday numbers on things like bus timetables, credit cards, recipes and money.
Learners are supported in a way that suits them, whether it’s one-on-one sessions or in a group.
Some people are seeking help with an upcoming entry exam while others are looking for support with understanding bus timetables.
Full training is given for volunteers with Multiply and their availability will be matched with a suitable learner in Inverclyde. Volunteers are asked to make a commitment of between two and four hours per week.
Multiply is a ring-fenced element of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is managed locally by Inverclyde Council’s Community Learning and Development team.
Anyone interested in volunteering can find out more by emailing CLD.Admin@inverclyde.gov.uk or phone 01475 715450.