In 2023, Mencap Me Time Nottingham began working with Inspire Learning to offer educational sessions in maths. This ranged from basic maths skills such as number recognition, counting and basic sums , to money related skills, as well as more creative uses of maths like origami and paper crafts.

Small groups worked with a tutor from Inspire and supported by Me Time staff for up to 8 weeks at a time. After this, a new group would then be given the opportunity and the course tailored to suit the ability levels of the group.

A man in a blue hoodie sits at a table creating craft from paper

When math skills meet craft

After several sessions, the tutor approached us to discuss the ability of some of the people who had attended the courses. She felt they had the potential to study for a City and Guilds Functional Skills qualification in Maths. Five candidates were identified and we worked together to create a programme where they could have weekly sessions in a small group and take their exam after 3 months.

The group worked hard over the course of 12 weeks, practicing their skills and sitting mock exams. When the day of the test came around just before Christmas, the group were nervous but excited to finally tackle the challenge. After sitting a calculator and non-calculator papers under strict exam conditions, they faced an anxious wait for a few days whilst the tests were marked. 

When the results came through, Kirsty was thrilled to learn she had passed and achieved Level 1 Functional Skills in Maths. Bradley had sat a higher paper and passed Level 2 in Functional Skills in Maths.

A man and woman standing outside holding thumbs up and smiling

Bradley and Kirsty

After hearing the results, Bradley said he was ‘buzzing’ and Kirsty was ‘over the moon’. They will both soon receive their official qualification certificates and can take this forward with them into any future employment opportunities. 

Although the other candidates did not get enough marks to pass, they were pleased with the new skills they had learned and will receive a certificate of participation for their efforts. 

Mencap Me Time Nottingham and Inspire are continuing their partnership into 2024 and have planned more courses in the year ahead to build confidence, skills and independence in maths for the people we support.