“I’m ready to take my next steps”
Curo’s numeracy course Strength in Numbers has given Emmy new-found confidence in more than maths.
Strength in Numbers, a numeracy course from Curo’s Work Wise service, has given Emmy, a refugee from Nigeria, the skills he needs to start building a new life in the UK.
“The course has improved my confidence,” says Emmy. “Now I’m ready to take my next steps in applying for courses and gaining the necessary qualifications to get a job.”
Strength in Numbers is designed to get delegates confident with using numbers in everyday life, boosting their employability.
Before he started the course, Emmy felt isolated from society. He has a physical disability that affects his mobility. This led him to lose confidence and he often felt anxious.
The Work Wise team created an action plan to manage the barriers that might have made attending the course difficult for Emmy. They helped him to plan and pay for travel to and from the course.
Although a numbers-based course, the benefits of Strength in Numbers go beyond maths. Emmy used to spend his days alone with no sense of any future. Not only has the course boosted Emmy’s English language skills, it’s also helped with his anxiety.
After attending the course, he’s joined a community-based sewing class. He’s enjoying using his numeracy skills in his projects, while also building friendships and support networks. In fact, his resilience and self-belief have flourished so much that he’s joining in sessions of the new course to support other refugees.
Strength in Numbers is a stepping stone to a brighter future for Emmy. He’s passed his numeracy assessment at college, which he never thought he’d be able to do. He’s now started a Level 2 Functional Skills Maths course, leading to further opportunities.
“It’s been fantastic to see how learners such as Emmy have blossomed on the course. We’re really proud that Strength in Numbers can be the first stage in changing their lives,” says Aimee Cadman, Employability and Skills Coach at Curo.
“Now I’ve got my dream job”
Lily Hutchinson (pictured) describes how Strength in Numbers helped her secure a better future.
I’m 63 years old and I’ve been trying to get maths right since I was a kid. At school I never got more than 10% in tests. The teachers had written me off by the time I left primary school. I ended up getting a grade 4 in my CSE exams aged 16.
I went on to become a registered nurse. Numeracy is important in nursing so I learnt strategies to get me through. I always had a second person look over my calculations. But my lack of confidence with numbers held me back in my career – for example, it meant that I never applied to become a sister.
As an adult, I’ve tried to get a maths qualification a couple of times, but it’s never worked out.
I found out about Strength in Numbers when I called Curo’s Work Wise service. As a Curo resident, I’d heard about the service, which helps people improve their skills and job prospects. I’m currently working as a cleaner but I want to change jobs as I’m finding it physically difficult as I have arthritis. Work Wise were brilliant and recommended the course.
The psychology part of the course was interesting. We looked at the reasons that people lack confidence with maths and learnt about dyscalculia, which can lead to difficulty understanding numbers. When I was at school in the 1960s and 70s people didn’t talk about any of this. The course leader was very good at explaining things and everyone was so friendly.
The course was a hugely positive step for me. Afterwards, I joined Power Up, another course from Work Wise. I now have my dream job as a teaching assistant. Because of my new-found confidence with numbers I’m able to help the children with maths in lessons.
If you or someone you know could benefit from the course, please get in touch. Anyone without a GCSE or a Maths qualification and aged 19+ is welcome to join this FREE relaxed and friendly part-time course, which is running throughout autumn.
For more email workwise@curo-group.co.uk, or call Aimee on 07773 073531 or Vira on 07813 544620.