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The Big Number Natter
Whether you love it or loathe it, everyone has something to say about maths!
Talking about numbers makes them a little less scary. You often find out you're not alone, and it's a great first step towards improving numeracy too.
Get your Big Number Natter started
Use these ideas and tips to get chatting about numbers, at home, at work, or on social media. Once you get started, you'll be surprised how many people feel just like you! It's good to talk!
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Making maths work for women and girls
Rachel Riley talks to fellow National Numeracy ambassadors Katya Jones and Iona Bain about why women lack number confidence and what can be done about it.
Rachel, Katya and Iona share their own experiences and explore why women are twice as anxious about using numbers and maths as men.
Dr Linda's confidence boosting tips
Psychologist Dr Linda shares her tips for feeling more confident with numbers, and in other areas of life and learning too!
A lack of confidence is one of the main things holding people back from brushing up on their numbers. Watch Dr Linda talk through her tips and download her tip sheet. See if her wise words can help you!
Watch these 'real life' Big Number Natters
How do numbers make you feel? It only take a few minutes to watch our real life number natterers share their feelings and their stories. Find out how feeling good - or bad - about numbers has affected their lives at work and at home. From getting better at managing money, to helping kids with homework...numbers are everywhere in our lives. Let's start sharing how we feel about them!
Some more new perspectives on numbers
See maths and numbers from a new cultural, political, and special needs education perspective here.
Real life stories
However you feel about maths and numbers, you're not alone. Read the stories and experiences of people we work with.
Can you see yourself in some of these stories? People of different ages and backgrounds have overcome their anxieties about numbers and maths. You can too! Take a look...
What is the Big Number Natter?
Whether you love it or loathe it, everyone has something to say about maths.
Talking about numbers make them a little less scary and it's a great first step towards improving numeracy too!
WHAT?
The Big Number Natter is the first ever nationwide conversation about numbers. It’s an opportunity to have a chat about numbers and change lives for the better. The story behind your lucky number, tips for bagging a bargain, calculations in your career or helping kids with homework…love it or loathe it, everyone has something to say about maths!
WHY?
Half the UK’s working age adults have low numeracy levels, which makes people more vulnerable to debt, unemployment, poor health and fraud – all exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis. But everyone can improve their numeracy and talking about numbers is a fantastic first step.
WHEN?
This May! National Numeracy Day is on Wednesday 17 May 2023, so we’ll be number nattering throughout the whole of May.
WHERE?
Join celebrities and experts on social media by sharing your own number stories. Or join the thousands of people holding their own number natter sessions across the UK, by hosting your own at school, college, work or in your community.
HOW?
Get inspired - Use the resources on this page to get some inspiration to start talking about numbers.
Share on social - Use #BigNumberNatter to follow the conversation across social media and join in by sharing your own number natter.
For organisations and schools - sign up to National Numeracy Day to get step-by-step guides, conversation starters and more, so you can organise a number natter where you are.
If you do one thing, do this...
However you feel about maths, you’re not alone. The National Numeracy Challenge is a free and easy-to-use website you can use to improve your confidence with numbers, in your own time and at your own pace.
It’s ideal for brushing up, checking your level, or for catching up on learning you missed, and it’s all about the maths you need in daily life and at work – no algebra or trigonometry.
