Why I applied for this internship
Growing up in a developing country meant that my parents, their siblings and my grandparents did not have the opportunity to continue their education beyond the later years of primary school. As a result, they could only manage basic maths. This meant that my siblings and I often had to rely on one another, the internet or, fortunately, maths tutors when we needed help with more advanced maths problems. National Numeracy’s values and mission encouraged me to reflect on my own personal experiences with numeracy, both for myself and within my family.
I am also involved with the Anthony Nolan charity, which supports stem cell donations and transplants for those in need. Through this experience, I saw first-hand the passion of charity workers and the positive impact their work has on people across the UK.
My first few weeks – discovering the impact of National Numeracy
During my induction week, I met with colleagues from teams across the charity, where I shared my own story with numeracy and heard about other people's experiences. It was interesting to discover how many stories were similar to mine, where people had initially been confident with maths before their confidence declined during secondary school. Hearing the statistics shared by the Impact Team also made me realise that my experience was part of a much wider trend.
Meeting with the different teams gave me a better understanding of their individual roles and how each one contributes to the charity's overall work. From supporting Numeracy Champions and helping teachers on the programme feel well supported, to securing funding from corporate partners and measuring the impact of the charity's work so it can continue to improve, every team plays an important role. I was really impressed by how much the charity achieves despite its relatively small size. National Numeracy truly works like a well-oiled machine.
My role and responsibilities and how I contributed to the charity
I worked most closely with the Schools & Families Team, where I supported Numeracy Champion training sessions and carried out data entry tasks to collate attendance records and participant feedback. I also received training in Salesforce, which helped me develop my skills in data management and improve my confidence using a CRM platform.
What I learned and will take away from this experience
It was surprising to see how many numeracy challenges continue into adulthood, especially in a country like the UK. Many of these challenges can be linked to people's experiences of maths at school and the lasting impact those experiences can have on their confidence. Seeing this first-hand highlighted the importance of charities like National Numeracy, which work to empower both parents and children to feel more confident with maths. Numeracy is an essential life skill that we use every day, so the more confident people feel with numbers, the more opportunities they can gain from life.
Overall, my internship at National Numeracy has been a valuable and rewarding experience. It has given me a greater understanding of the importance of numeracy, as well as the positive impact a charity like National Numeracy can have on people's lives. I am grateful to everyone who took the time to support me during my internship, and I will take the skills and knowledge I have gained with me as I continue my career.
