Let’s Get Blackpool South Confident with Numbers

This National Numeracy Day, I want to shine a light on an issue that affects thousands of people in Blackpool – our confidence with numbers.

Being able to understand and use numbers matters – whether it’s budgeting for food and bills, managing debt, understanding payslips, or helping kids with their homework. But too many people across the UK – around half of all adults have numeracy skills no higher than those expected of a primary school child. That has a knock-on effect on job prospects, mental health, and financial wellbeing – and it costs the UK economy up to £25 billion a year.

In Blackpool South the picture it even worse. The UK Numeracy Index (UKNI) ranks every ward in the country according to levels of numeracy confidence and skills. A score of 100 represents the highest need – meaning very low confidence and very low numeracy skills. A score of 1 represents the lowest need, where people tend to feel comfortable with numbers and use them more effectively in daily life.

In Blackpool South, all 16 wards fall into the highest-need category. In Bloomfield, the index score is 99, while Clifton and Victoria each score 97. These figures tell a clear story – far too many people in our area are being held back by low number confidence.

This year, the theme of National Numeracy Day is money – helping people improve the number skills they need for better financial decisions. There are free, fun and practical resources available to everyone, including games and videos for children, money confidence tips for adults, and downloadable tools for schools and workplaces – all designed to help people of all ages take the first step toward feeling more confident with numbers. You can access them here.

Locally, we’re also lucky to have access to free numeracy courses through Multiply, delivered by Blackpool and The Fylde College. These short, flexible courses are open to adults who want to improve their maths skills for work, home life, or personal growth – no exams, no pressure. You can find out more here.

Improving numeracy isn’t about passing tests – it’s about unlocking confidence and opportunity.

I’m proud to support National Numeracy Day and I encourage everyone across Blackpool South to explore the resources and get involved.