Multiply
Partnership
Closed to new partnersParticipants
Open to new participantsLocation
York and North YorkshireAudience
Organisations and employers able to support participants to develop skills in MathsDeadline
Current delivery by end of March 2025
Multiply is the government’s £560 million programme helping to transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of adults across the UK, delivered through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The funding is distributed across local councils and then allocated to providers to deliver various different activities to support individuals with their numeracy skills.
Better Connect have formed a partnership with local organisations routed within their communities to help individuals develop their skills in numeracy. We are also working with employers to highlight the benefit of developing numeracy skills within the workplace.
In March 2023, we held an event for Multiply, see the below video to find out more!
Why is Numeracy important?
Numeracy is the ability to understand and use maths in daily life, home, and work. Whether that be improving household finances, helping children with homework, making more sense of the stats and facts in the media, or improving numeracy skills specific to your line of work.
People who improve their numeracy skills are more likely to be in employment, have higher wages and better wellbeing, and will be more able to progress to higher levels of free training to secure a skilled job in our economy.
Businesses who develop their employees’ numeracy skills can boost productivity, increase profits and improve employee retention.
The multiply programme was created to help adults improve their numeracy skills and gain a greater understanding of the impact that poor numeracy skills can have on their lives.
Watch our Multiply animation produced in collaboration with WILD Studios
Click hereHow to get involved?
Better Connect is working with organisations across York and North Yorkshire that are routed within their local communities and able to offer support to individuals in numeracy.
We are also working with employers to show how numeracy skills are used across different types of workplaces. We will be holding events and inviting both employers and unemployed individuals, to try and raise awareness of the importance of numeracy – and give candidates the opportunity to meet employers that have vacancies they are potentially struggling to fill due to the job requirements or skills gaps.
We would also like to hear from stakeholders, councils or funders from other areas such as West Yorkshire.
We are keen to support with the multiply programme wherever possible.
If you are interested in delivering a project to support people develop their numeracy skills, or an employer looking to get involved in these events, please contact Christine Brass on cbrass@betterconnect.org.uk
Testimonials
“My confidence has improved greatly. So much so I am now volunteering in a shop using numbers and I am looking for paid employment – it has been a long time since I last worked.
”
— Multiply Participant
“I am more confident with my budgeting and have now gained a place at college to study carpentry.
”
— Multiply Participant
“I have been fully immersed in this programme. I really enjoyed working on patterns and symmetry, mass and volumes.”
— Multiply Participant
“I feel more comfortable with numbers now. I understand my income and expenditure better.”
— Multiply Participant
“Debt closed and debt free now! Focused on staying that way in the future through better budgeting. ”
— Multiply Participant
Meet The Team
Alex Kelley
Programmes Director
01423 795309 or ext 2001akelley@betterconnect.org.uk
Community Anchor Impact Multiply Rise2Thrive SHINE
About Alex
Alex’s is the Programmes Director at Better Connect, overseeing the amazing programmes that we manage across the organisation. Leading and supporting the Programmes and Impact Team, Alex’s role has a strong focus on development. This includes developing staff, systems, processes and relationships with delivery partners, funders and stakeholders. All to ensure that Better Connect programmes are successful, achieve their aims and ultimately transform people’s lives. Alex is also an Executive Director and member of the Board, contributing to the strategic direction of the company. The best bit of his job is seeing the life-changing impact that Better Connect programmes have on those involved.
“We choose our joys and our sorrows long before we experience them.”
— Kahlil Gibran
The Official Bit
Alex has a BSc (Hons) degree in Psychology, a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management and a PTLLS teaching qualification. Alex began his career in customer service, moved to work in banking and then joined Better Connect following University in 2012. He felt a strong connection to the values and work within the community sector and has developed his career within the Better Connect, progressing from an Assistant to his current role as Programmes Director. Along the way, Alex has worked across almost every aspect of the company. For Alex, the most important part of work is feeling as though it is meaningful and that it is making a positive difference to society.
Fun Fact
Becomes overly competitive when playing sport or games
Piece of Advice
Count your blessings, every day.
Christine Brass
Multiply Programme Manager
01423 795306 or ext 2014cbrass@betterconnect.org.uk
Multiply
About Christine
Christine’s role as the Multiply Manager, is to lead on all aspects of this multi-million pound Government funded initiative, to improve confidence and ability in adult numeracy. Her primary objective, is to support an effective partnership through working together to share best practice, build relationships with employers, education institutes and participants, to deliver a successful and meaningful programme.
Her key focus is to provide proactive management support for the partnership and the funders. Bringing together organisations that can influence and change the way numeracy is perceived and measured in the future, with a view to making more jobs accessible to more people.
“What worries you, masters you - John Locke”
The Official Bit
Christine developed her skills whilst working for many years in the Financial Sector in Customer Services and Marketing. There she established a keen eye for detail, negotiating skills, and creative thinking. Gaining skills in organisation, people management and leadership, in particular.
She joined Better Connect in 2020, when she was at a crossroads and realised that working in the voluntary and community sector would be more meaningful and rewarding than being driven by profit. Working for and with people who value people and who operate inclusively without discrimination is a reward every day.
Fun Fact
I’m a mean painter and decorator
Piece of Advice
Don’t stress over things you cannot control, it’s a waste of your precious energy
Favourite Place
The Pembrokeshire Coast – beautifully unspoilt
Emily Lain
Finance and Audit Coordinator
01423 795300elain@betterconnect.org.uk
Finance Team Multiply Rise2Thrive SHINE
About Emily
Emily is one of the Finance and Audit Co-ordinators for Better Connect. She started this role in January 2022 after finishing her time on her Kickstart role . Her responsibilities now include checking financial claims, audit work, elements of book keeping, and maintaining partner relationships. For Emily, the best parts about the job are the welcoming environment created by everyone, and knowing that the work she’s doing is helping to make a difference in people’s lives.
“Get busy living or get busy dying”
— Stephen King
The Official Bit
Emily has a BA (Hons) in Equestrian Management and Development from Myerscough College. She previously worked at Subway and has experience working in the equine industry. Working in an organisation like Better Connect is a first for Emily and she has enjoyed the progression from Kickstart Assistant, to a fulltime member of the finance team.
Emily is excited to learn more about the workings of the voluntary sector and how she can be a part of it. She’s passionate about getting involved with promotional activities for Better Connects’ programmes, reading people’s experiences, and supporting the network of partners across the projects.
Fun Fact
I knew how to ride a horse before I knew how to ride a bike
Favourite Place
The lake/ponds local to where I live
Hannah Prole
Impact Manager
01423 795304 or ext 2010HProle@betterconnect.org.uk
Community Anchor Impact Multiply Rise2Thrive SHINE
About Hannah
Hannah is our Impact Manager at Better Connect. Her role is to show the impact that Better Connect and our programmes are making in many different ways such as through social media, our website, networking, events and presentations. Hannah is passionate about creating positive environments that people feel safe to be themselves in, especially at work. She loves building strong relationships with partners, meeting new people and really getting to know why people are the way they are and why they do what they do!
Hannah loves being creative and getting into ‘flow’ with her work. She loves making things and being involved in the creative process. Hannah loves working for Better Connect because she gets to have variety in her role and appreciates the positive culture and focus on wellbeing.
“The truest, most beautiful life never promised to be an easy one. We need to let go of the lie that it’s all supposed to be easy.
”
— Glennon Doyle
The Official Bit
Hannah has a BA (Hons) in Theatre, specialising in working with and supporting Young People with learning difficulties and mental health issues to gain confidence and feel safe in positive spaces. She thrives in a creative environment and tries to bring those skills into everything she does at Better Connect.
Hannah began her career at 16, working in customer facing roles until the age of 23. She will always be grateful for the experience she gained in these roles and feel that they helped her to engage with partners and stakeholders. After finishing University, Hannah worked at York Theatre Royal as a Research and Evaluation Graduate Intern. Whilst at the Theatre, Hannah learnt about the voluntary sector and began volunteering with various community groups in York delivering theatre-style workshops to vulnerable people.
Hannah has worked at Better Connect since 2017, starting in the Programmes Team as an Assistant. Since then, she has worked across various funding streams and programmes, working her way up to becoming a Programme Manager in 2020. Now our Impact Manager, Hannah is inspired every day by the amazing work that partners do in their communities and loves that she can have a role that helps highlight the impact both Better Connect and our partners are making. She loves being part of an organisation that wants to make a positive difference in the world.
Hannah is also a Trustee for a charity based in Leeds called Purple Patch Arts. Purple Patch Arts exists to provide innovative, inclusive, creative learning opportunities that improve the lives of learning-disabled and autistic adults by expanding their understanding of, and engagement with, the world.
Fun Fact
Obsessed with TV Chef, Rick Stein (and cooking programmes/food in general!)
Things I love
Dogs! I have my own dog called Boba, who is named after the bounty hunter in Star Wars Boba Fett!
Jacky Wendon
Programme Finance and Data Manager
01423 795307 or ext 2015JWendon@betterconnect.org.uk
Finance Team Multiply Rise2Thrive SHINE
About Jacky
Jacky is our Finance and Data Manager and is responsible for data collation, research, compliance, analysis and reporting for our projects as well as undertaking Internal Audits and supporting and coaching the Finance team.
Jacky really enjoys Analytical work and likes to think she has an eye for detail! She is a natural organiser and feels lucky to be part of a team where people are valued and listened to. Better Connect is a supportive and welcoming environment and everyone is so friendly.
The Official Bit
Jacky has a background in the Commercial and Financial industry and over the last 17 years she has worked in roles where she has done a mixture of Business Support, Audits, Finance, HR, Research, Data, Analysis and Systems support. Here at Better Connect, Jacky feels that she can use the skills she has gained throughout her career to thrive in her role at a company where she truly believed in their values.
Jacky started at Better Connect in November 2020 as a Finance and Audit Co-ordinator responsible for checking financial claims and undertaking Audit work. Since then, she progressed into becoming the Finance and Data Manager in 2022 where she feels she is able to utilise her Analytical, Organisational, Finance and Management skills further which she thoroughly enjoys.
Jacky really enjoys working alongside amazing people who support and encourage each other and being part of an organization who really care about each other and help make a difference in transforming people’s lives.
Fun Fact
I love older music, particularly 60s Music!
Piece of Advice
It’s nice to be nice, so treat people how you would like to be treated.
Favourite Place
Madeira – It’s so beautiful, dramatic and inspiring
Jonah Potter
Finance and Audit Coordinator
01423 795314 or ext 2013JPotter@betterconnect.org.uk
Finance Team Multiply Rise2Thrive SHINE
About Jonah
Jonah is one of the Finance and Audit Coordinator at Better Connect. Internally, he assists staff in finance functions through auditing. Externally, he assists our partners on the Multiply and RISE programmes. The best part of his job is constantly learning and being challenged as well as the amazing team he works within.
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
”
— Mahatma Gandhi
The Official Bit
Jonah started his career in a multinational financial technology company and progressed to Better Connect in 2019. He originally started out as a Programmes Coordinator and has since moved into a more finance focused role.
Jonah believes that the third sector is a vital part of creating a kinder and more inclusive society.
Favourite Place
St Andrews Golf Course
Favourite Book
The Lord of the Rings
Julie Geraghty
Head of Programme Finance and Audit
01423 795317 or ext 2004JGeraghty@betterconnect.org.uk
Finance Team Multiply Rise2Thrive SHINE
About Julie
Julie is Head of Programme Finance and audit, so is responsible for ensuring the programme operates compliantly within all the funding regulations. She particularly loves the nitty gritty detail and finding solutions to help smooth out any issues. The best thing about working here is the fabulous team of people and the genuine culture of nurture and support.
“Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
”
— Henry Van Dyke
The Official Bit
Julie has a BA (Hons) in Urban Geography and a Certificate in Management from Leeds University. She began her career piloting and running projects within the Chamber of Commerce and then later with the then Training and Enterprise Council. She took a career break whilst bringing up her children and worked part-time in a call centre for a well-known bank where she gained valuable experience of frontline customer service. Following redundancy, Julie set up her own business which she ran for several years until being drawn back into programme management, ultimately leading her to Better Connect in 2018.
Julie is a strong believer in the provision of opportunities for everyone and this runs through the core of Better Connect.
Piece of Advice
Be a mindful spender – Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves
Favourite Place
Nidd Gorge and the stunning wooded walks
Laura Sandiford
Impact Coordinator
01423 795303 or ext 2016lsandiford@betterconnect.org.uk
Community Anchor Impact Multiply Rise2Thrive SHINE
About Laura
A keen storyteller & collaborator, Laura works alongside Hannah as the Impact Coordinator, where she measures and highlights the impact of Better Connect across its business, programmes, and partnerships. She does so by working with a range of people to gather information and stories, which she then translates into engaging content across Better Connect’s channels.
Building relationships is a large part of Laura’s role, alongside ensuring the ‘’Better Connect story’’ is woven throughout all communications.
Laura’s favourite part of the role is connecting with the faces behind the case studies and giving voice to their experiences.
“I can resist everything except temptation”
— Oscar Wilde
The Official Bit
Laura formerly spent 2 years working as a Participant Experience Coordinator on one of Better Connects’ ESF & Lottery funded projects, Action Towards Inclusion. She is a huge advocate for sustainable social change, and believes this begins with supporting and empowering individuals, and championing social inclusion.
Within this role, she managed the collaboration between partners, keyworkers, and participants on an administrative and ESF/National Lottery compliant scale. She also tracked the ‘Participant Journey’ from start to finish, following participant engagement across the programme.
Laura has a first-class BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature from the University of Sheffield.
Favourite Place
Sheffield / Mwnt (Wales)
Fun Fact
Was in an amateur production at Harrogate Theatre
Natasha Babar-Evans
Chief Executive Officer
07725447623nbabarevans@betterconnect.org.uk
Community Anchor Finance Team Impact Multiply Rise2Thrive SHINE
About Natasha
Natasha is the Chief Executive Officer at Better Connect. Natasha is proud to be leading this amazing team at Better Connect who are helping to make Yorkshire a place where every person can thrive in life and work. Better Connect has a great track record of delivery, partnership working and an incredibly committed team which are helping to transform lives. Natasha joined in May 2022 and instantly connected with the team and our vision. Natasha is focused on empowering the team and our partners to do more and be more. She absolutely loves being part of a team who are so full of purpose, thrive on autonomy and are experts in what we do. But it’s not just about the impact we are making and achieving our goals for Natasha, it’s about how we do it and having loads of fun along the way.
““Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible””
— Dalai Lama
The Official Bit
Natasha has always enjoyed working in roles which are focused on enabling people and businesses to thrive in the North.
Before joining Better Connect as CEO, Natasha worked at Relate Bradford & Leeds helping people to develop and sustain healthy relationships and improve their mental health and wellbeing. She has been an entrepreneur and COO of Wizu Workspace a flexible workspace provider supporting the growth of businesses in Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield.
Natasha completed an MBA at Leeds University in 2016, where she is now a leader in residence. She then went on to be Regional Entrepreneur Director for NatWest supporting and helping to coach hundreds of entrepreneurs in accelerators across the North to start, scale and succeed. Natasha has both a banking and legal background. She worked as a banking lawyer at Walker Morris following which she joined Regional Lloyds Bank team as the Regional Sales Director and Client Services Director.
Natasha was appointed as a board member and trustee in 2021 for Trust Leeds, she has been on LEP investment steering groups, she has recently been appointed as an independent panel member at AFC(H) and is completing a NED insights programme shadowing NHS boards.
Fun Fact
I love grass roots football! I play for Leeds City Lasses and help coach under 8 and 9 girls football. (I love playing sports…I might be just a little bit competitive!)
Piece of advice
Outside of your comfort zone is where the magic happens
News and Updates
Launches, Awards & Life Changing Transformation: Celebrating a Year in Programmes
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Impact
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Rise2Thrive
SHINE
It’s been a busy year for programmes at Better Connect. Last March, we kicked off the last year of Multiply delivery (year 3 of 3) with a bang, commissioning two cases studies with Inspired Youth, and in May, excitedly welcomed Rise2Thrive and SHINE to our programme offer. Over the past 12 months, we’ve
Numeracy, Sustainability & Screen Printing – Orb’s Final Session on Multiply
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Impact
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At the end of this month, we’ll sadly be saying goodbye to Multiply, a 3-year Government funded programme which has enabled thousands of adults across the country to improve their numeracy skills. Across the York & North Yorkshire region, our Multiply partnership has supported hundreds of individuals to find their numeracy feet and
Skills Innovation Fund – Expression of Interest
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multiply
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Last week Mayor David Skaith launched the Skills Innovation Fund to support skills development in the York and North Yorkshire region over a timeframe of two years, from April 2025 to March 2027. We believe that this fund could be a good fit for a future programme enabling us to offer ‘hidden curriculum’
Life in Colour – Impact Event
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Rise2Thrive
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On Friday 31st January, we held an event at Cedar Court Hotel in Harrogate to celebrate the impact of our programmes and partnerships across Yorkshire. This was our largest event ever with 150 people booked on, our partners, participants, friends and key people from across Yorkshire. The theme of the event was ‘Life in
‘’Multiply is maths, but in a real way” – Shopping on a Budget With Coterminous CIC
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Mental Health
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A couple of weeks ago Christine and Laura visited York Travellers Trust, to sit in on the penultimate session of Coterminous’s ‘Shopping on a Budget’ course. Part of the support on offer through the Multiply programme, Coterminous’s CJ Allison and Harrie Smith (of Transcending Fusion), have been hosting a series of budgeting sessions at the
Upcycling, Furniture Restoration & Community Engagement – Meet Futureworks
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Mental Health
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Rise2Thrive
Our Impact team recently spent the day in Scarborough visiting Futureworks, before heading down to Mindful Photography UK’s exhibition at The Street. Having worked with us over many years and multiple programmes, it’s clear the positive impact that Futureworks have on the Scarborough community, and it’s a pleasure to have the team as part of
Meet Our Programme Finance and Data Manager – Jacky
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Careers
Internal
Meet the Team
multiply
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As part of our ‘Meet The Team’ series, over the next few weeks we’ll be focusing on our Finance Department. We’ll celebrate their roles, responsibilities, and relationships with numbers – from crunching the all important data, to processing claims and financial forecasting (we couldn’t resist the Multiply twist!) Today, we’re hearing from our Programme
Meet Our Finance Director – Julie B
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Careers
Internal
Meet the Team
multiply
news item
As part of our ‘Meet The Team’ series, over the next few weeks we’ll be focusing on our Finance Department. We’ll celebrate their roles, responsibilities, and relationships with numbers – from crunching the all important data, to processing claims and financial forecasting (we couldn’t resist the Multiply twist!) Today, we’re hearing from our
The Quality Professionals Awards 2024 – We Won!
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Meet the Team
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The Quality Professionals Awards, in its first year, gathered 200 people from across further education and employability to honour the contribution of quality and compliance professionals. 11 winners awards were presented across 9 categories and two overall outstanding winners were selected from all the finalists. 53 finalists represented organisations across the UK including
The Omari Family Story
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Last month, our Impact Team had the pleasure of creating a film with Inspired Youth, featuring the inspirational Omari family and their keyworkers Yesmien and Amanda from Craven College. Through the Multiply programme, Keyworkers Yesmien and Amanda met the Omari Family, Ahmad and Mozghan and their 11 children, who fled Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2021
Multiply – Kian’s Story
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The Impact Team have been busy at Better Connect recently, collecting stories across our programmes and hearing about how the support is truly changing peoples lives. This month, we had the pleasure of meeting Kian who had received support from CJ. CJ works for York Based CIC Coterminous and is a keyworker on the
Community Fridges, Flexible Starts & Numeracy Support- How Blue Dolphin are Supporting Their Team Through Multiply
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Employer Engagement
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Thriving at Work
As part of the Multiply scheme, our Multiply partners are keen to engage with a range of businesses, big and small, to recalibrate how employers are thinking about recruitment, upskilling, and workplace support through a numerical lens. In line with this employee/employer focus, one of our partners, Autism Plus, have been dropping into workplaces
Apertures, City Maps & Budgeting- Up for Yorkshire on Jon’s Multiply Journey
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Mental Health
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RISE
Up for Yorkshire are one of our fantastic partners on the Multiply programme, and have been running a range of sessions across year 2 of provision to inspire numbers confidence and encourage participants to utilise their maths skills on the daily. From bushcraft to budgeting, to cooking, sewing, and photography geared sessions, the team are
Multiply’s Magic- Navigating Numbers With Coterminous
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Wellbeing Resources
A couple of weeks ago the Impact team paid a visit to York Travellers Trust. Light, bright and welcoming, the Trust is a cohesive community space for Gypsy and Traveller Communities, which doubles up as a foodbank, education centre, community-hub, and refuge for meaningful conversations. Coterminous, one of our fantastic partners on the Multiply
Reflections, Resolutions, and a Happy New Year from Better Connect!
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Happy New Year from all of us here at Better Connect! Wondering what we’ve been up to over the last 365 days? With resolutions in full force, it’s only right that we share a few of our own after first recapping on some of our 2023 headliners, from programme closures to new launches, to
Our Multiply Team Updates!
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What have the team been up to? Our Multiply team have had an exciting few months managing Multiply and connecting with our wonderful partners. Formerly both part of our ATI team, Christine and Sophia have been keen to get stuck into a new venture and have a hand in making maths accessible. They’ve represented
Literacy Day- Our Team’s Favourite Books
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In a reading slump? In honour of International Literacy Day, today we’re sharing some of our favourite books with you from across the Better Connect Team! Literacy is an important part of life & learning globally. This year’s theme for Literacy Day is ‘Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable
“It’s easy to get into debt – but hard to get out” – Multiply Participant Stories
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A few weeks back, we had the pleasure of visiting Multiply keyworker CJ Allison and his participants Dan and David as they battled through some budgets, talked financial self-advocacy, and discussed self-employment tips and tricks. Multiply is the government’s new multi-million-pound programme to help transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of adults across
Multiply – Celebrating Year One!
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On Friday 31st March we held an event at Priory Street in York to celebrate our first year of Multiply! You may be thinking.. but you’ve just launched this programme? Well our amazing partnership had only 3 months to deliver on their targets from the date we received the funding in December and we
Multiply – Joe’s top 3 money saving tips
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As part of Multiply, our team will be sharing some top tips around finance, household bills, budgeting and numeracy.. this time we hear from Joe with his top 3 money saving tips! I’ve felt extremely lucky during the cost of living crisis. Although some of my costs have certainly gone up, I’ve not been hit