PEOPLE across Dorset have been signing up for free numeracy courses to improve employability and help them cope in the cost-of-living crisis.

The Multiply programme is government-funded and being coordinated in Dorset by Skills and Learning Adult Community Education.

The courses are aimed at people over the age of 19 without a GCSE in maths at grade C or equivalent, with courses including basic maths skills, budgeting and cooking to a budget.

Charity National Numeracy estimates 49 per cent of the UK’s working age population have the expected numeracy skills of a primary school child, costing the economy £25 billion a year.

Samantha Howrihane, from Poole, signed up to Multiply to improve her confidence and employability.

She said: “I never did very well at maths at school and left without my GCSE. I have been doing the online activities on the Skills & Learning website and have really enjoyed them, so when I read about Multiply I was really interested and came along to find out more.

“I want to do a bookkeeping course, so I really want to get my numeracy up to scratch and am taking the Multiply course to do that.

“I'm going to attend an in-person group in Poole to start with because I want to get out of the house and learn alongside other people. I’m really excited to be part of a group all learning at the same rate and level.”

To find out more and to sign up, visit: https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/subjects/multiply-free-maths-courses/