National Numeracy toolkit for supporting adults
Welcome to your toolkit!
Thank you so much for taking part in National Numeracy Day, 20 May 2026.
We’re incredibly grateful to have you involved. You play a vital role in helping us inspire confidence with numbers and create brighter futures for people across the UK.
Below, you’ll find:
(click on the name of each section to jump down the page)
Campaign information
• About National Numeracy Day
• About the theme: Count on Your Community
• Getting involved
• Key dates
Resources to build confidence with numbers
• The Big Number Natter
• The National Numeracy Challenge
• Stories to share: real-life impact
Promotional materials
• How to communicate about National Numeracy Day: text templates
• Downloadable digital assets
• Our social handles
About National Numeracy Day
First things first, what’s it all about? Well, National Numeracy Day is the UK’s only campaign dedicated to improving everyday maths. Each May, organisations across the country come together to help children and adults feel more confident with numbers at work, at home and at school.
The campaign raises awareness of the importance of numeracy and signposts free tools and resources that help people take practical steps to improve.
About the theme: Count on Your Community
This year, #NationalNumeracyDay2026 highlights the vital role communities play in building confidence with numbers.
Millions of people across the UK struggle with numeracy and improving these skills can feel daunting to tackle alone. But with encouragement and support from others at home, in the workplace, or in local groups, change is possible.
Through Count on Your Community, we’re inviting organisations to help create supportive environments where people can start conversations about numbers and take small steps to improve their confidence, together. One of the best ways to take part is by having a Big Number Natter – a formal or informal conversation about how you feel about numbers, in groups or one-to-one. However you decide to have a #BigNumberNatter, lets get the nation talking about numbers! Find out more below.
Getting involved
There are so many ways you can get involved in National Numeracy Day.
1. The Big Number Natter
Bring the campaign to life in your workplace by inviting staff to take part in the UK’s only nationwide conversation about numbers. You can hold Big Number Natters in groups or one-to-one, and they can be as formal or informal as you like. You can also share number stories and experiences across your internal and external channels using #BigNumberNatter, then encourage colleagues to take the next step by building their confidence with the National Numeracy Challenge.
Find out more and get your Big Number Natter resources
2. Spread the word and invite others
Help us grow the campaign by encouraging education providers and partner organisations in your network to join National Numeracy Day. From nurseries and schools to workplaces and community groups, everyone who signs up will receive a free toolkit packed with resources, celebrity ambassador videos and activity sheets.
Use these templates and graphics
3. The National Numeracy Challenge
The National Numeracy Challenge is our free, easy-to-use online tool designed to build everyday maths skills and confidence. Encourage your colleagues, customers and communities to take part using the downloadable assets on this page. It’s the perfect next step after a Big Number Natter for staff — and a simple way to help boost number confidence across your wider audiences.
Use these templates and graphics
4. Thought leadership & media opportunities
Position your organisation at the forefront of tackling the UK’s numeracy crisis this National Numeracy Day.
Share your commitment by encouraging leaders to speak about your involvement in the campaign internally to inspire your workforce, and externally through articles, blogs, newsletters, social media and media opportunities. The Comms team at National Numeracy will be delivering a high-profile media campaign, and we’d love to work with you to amplify your story even further please get in touch to explore opportunities.
Visit our Media Centre or get in touch
5. Individual giving & fundraising
Support National Numeracy this National Numeracy Day through a donation, fundraising activity, or by spreading the word. From bake sales to personal challenges, every contribution helps us reach more people, particularly in disadvantaged communities, and move closer to a world where everyone has the confidence to succeed with numbers.
Key dates
Here are some important dates and information to help you plan your National Numeracy Day activity.
April
Mid-April: The Big Number Natter will be announced – please amplify National Numeracy’s posts.
Late April: Your online toolkit will be updated with links to our campaign resources.
Throughout the month:
• Plan your internal activity and external communications.
• Promote your involvement.
• Plan your own campaign activities or events.
• Amplify National Numeracy's campaign content and encourage people to sign up using the assets provided in this toolkit.
May
6 May: 2 weeks to go! Promote your support of the campaign using the assets provided and share National Numeracy's social content.
13 May: 1 week to go! Look out for our online content and amplify across your own channels.
20 May: National Numeracy Day! Tell people about your support, including any planned activities and evens, and join in the #BigNumberNatter.
The campaign runs until the end of May, so please continue posting, sharing and amplifying content.
The Big Number Natter
As the UK’s only nationwide conversation about numbers, the Big Number Natter is a simple but powerful way to engage your staff, customers, and communities in talking about how numbers show up in everyday life from managing money and helping children with homework, to using maths at work or finding the best bargain.
These conversations matter. Almost half of the UK’s working-age adults have low numeracy levels, making them more vulnerable to debt, unemployment, poor health and fraud. But confidence with numbers can be built and talking about numbers is a vital first step.
Taking place throughout May, in the lead up to National Numeracy Day on Wednesday 20 May 2026, you can host Number Natters in the workplace, online, or in your communities. They can be formal or informal, in groups or one-to-one – you decide.
We've created this suite of ready-to-use resources to make getting involved easy. You can also search for #BigNumberNatter on social media for some inspiration!
![[field.image-text]](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_and_crop_600x350/public/images/BNN-guide-adult_NND26.png?itok=ezpcP0Or)
![[field.image-text1]](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_and_crop_600x350/public/images/Posters_BNN_thumbnail.png?itok=dWW6iUtg)
![[field.image-text2]](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_and_crop_600x350/public/images/Quick-Number-Natter-Talking-Points_2024_600x350.png?itok=vRVjZQWx)
The National Numeracy Challenge
However you feel about maths, you’re not alone. The National Numeracy Challenge is a free and easy-to-use website you or your team can use to improve confidence with numbers, in your own time and at your own pace.
It adapts to the user's learning level to keep things as stress-free as possible: if you answer questions correctly the questions get harder, but if you answer incorrectly they get easier. There are two types of check: a 'quick-check' which only takes around 10 minutes and gives a rough idea of your level, and a full 'check-up' which is longer and will give a more accurate measure of your skills with areas to focus on, with tailored learning resources.
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.
It can be used on any device, including mobile phones, and can be installed as an app – simply lookout for the 'install app' button when you visit the Challenge.
Stories to share: real-life impact
Our stories from adults who overcome lifelong anxieties about numeracy are an inspiration to us, and the range of people that these stories come from shows how widespread this issue is.
Read and share these stories to show others that, whatever your starting point, we can all build our number confidence.
How to communicate about National Numeracy Day: text templates
Not sure how to talk about National Numeracy Day? Short on time, or unsure about the right tone? We’ve got you covered.
We have created text templates which include light-touch, ready-to-use messaging that you can copy, tweak or tailor for your emails, newsletters, internal comms, social media and more.
Our tone of voice is always friendly, inclusive, empowering and supportive, never patronising or competitive. We also recognise that external context matters, so messaging can be flexed where needed. If you have any concerns about promoting National Numeracy Day, please do get in touch.
Downloadable digital assets
Here is a range of ready-to-use assets from virtual backgrounds and bunting to social media graphics so you can show your support and spread the word about National Numeracy Day in a fun, visible way.
Virtual call backgrounds
Download these backgrounds to use on your virtual calls, and raise awareness of the campaign.
![[field.image-text]](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_and_crop_600x350/public/images/Virtual-call-backgrounds-NND26-thumbnail.png?itok=U6TihBfv)
Promotional graphics
![[field.image-text1]](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_and_crop_600x350/public/images/NND-promo-26.png?itok=H8wKcirw)
Posters and bunting
Download these posters and bunting to spread awareness of the campaign and get everyone started on their number confidence journey.
![[field.image-text2]](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_and_crop_600x350/public/images/Poster-bunting-thumbnail_NND26.png?itok=bjKHmL0A)
Be sure to tag us in any social media activity and use #NationalNumeracyDay2026 and #BigNumberNatter so we can see and share what you're up to! You can find us on: