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Join us for Number Confidence Week 2024

25 Sep 2024

It’s simple: life is harder if you don't feel confident with numbers.

For this year’s Number Confidence Week, we're tackling the glaring link between gender and number confidence.

Image of people with text saying "Number Confidence Week, 4-8 November 2024"

Despite having similar skill levels, women show much lower confidence levels with maths than men and this is holding them back. Lacking number confidence makes life more challenging – whether it's managing bills, following medical advice, or pushing for a promotion. The result can lead to debt, anxiety, and missed career opportunities.

And it's not just women – these attitudes hurt everyone, including men who face pressures that prevent them from seeking support.

Number Confidence Week, 4-8 November, seeks to change that by empowering people to build their confidence, and unlock new opportunities.

And this year, we want to tackle the gender confidence gap that limits career options and social mobility, particularly for women. Through an inclusive campaign, the week will also highlight barriers men face, while helping all individuals to build their confidence and support each other.

Free resources and activities

We will provide free new resources for teachers, families, and adults who support children in learning. There will also be free confidence-boosting activities for adults via our website and emails. And, with the help of our celebrity ambassadors, the week will showcase stories of overcoming barriers to numeracy.

Eleni, bydd adnoddau ysgol hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg! Cofiwch gofrestru ar gyfer eich Pecyn Cymorth isod. This year, school resources will also be available in Welsh! Remember to register for your toolkit below.

Organisations can also get involved and are asked to motivate colleagues to participate in a Big Number Natter.

Sign up for a free toolkit now

The gender confidence gap

Thanks to our research, we know there is a stark gender gap in number confidence.

Some key findings highlight the size of this issue:

  • Confidence predicts numeracy skills, yet women are twice as anxious as men about using maths, even when they show proficiency. Almost 24% of women said they feel nervous when dealing with maths, but only 12% of men said the same.
  • 40% of women do not consider themselves "numbers people," in contrast to 23% of men.
  • Young women aged 18-21 are even more affected, with 35% lacking confidence in making financial decisions (The Confidence Gap: Women and Number Confidence, National Numeracy).
  • 33% of women said they would be put off from applying for a job that needed number skills, compared to 20% of men.

Data from YouGov research in September 2022, for National Numeracy, unless otherwise stated.

This paints a clear picture. Confidence, not just skill, is what prevents women from fully embracing opportunities where numbers play a key role.

According to 2023 Social Mobility Report, the lowest number confidence is found among girls who have recently left the education system. This lack of confidence perpetuates gender inequalities, with young women missing out on opportunities that rely on solid numeracy skills.

By building number confidence people can access new career paths, feel safer managing their money, and, ultimately, unlock greater opportunities.

Number Confidence Week is part of a wider mission to bridge this gap and improve confidence for all.

Join us from November 4-8: sign up to get your free toolkit now!

Schools and organisations can get ready by signing up for a free toolkit. Full of activities and materials, you'll find everything you need to get your community feeling confident.

Sign-up for schools

Sign-up for organisations

Let’s work together to build a future where everyone has the confidence to succeed with numbers.

Thank you to National Numeracy's partners supporting Number Confidence Week 2024: Number Confidence Week Founding Supporter TP ICAP, and Lead Supporters Barclays LifeSkills, Capital One, Experian, the Lord Mayor’s Appeal and Vanquis Banking Group.