Iryna arrived in the UK from Ukraine in May 2024 with her 16-year-old daughter. While settling into life in a new country, she was actively seeking employment, particularly in teaching assistant and retail roles. In Ukraine, Iryna worked as an English tutor for primary school children and gained experience in administration and office work, which she enjoyed.
Living in sponsored housing, Iryna found the UK welcoming. While actively applying for roles, she completed an English Language course to help improve her spoken and written English skills. However, speaking English in real-time conversations remained a challenge, particularly as she and her daughter spoke Ukrainian at home.
After joining the Restart programme in early 2025, Iryna was introduced to the Multiply Programme.
“I was keen to do it as it would help with my English and specific numerical terminology,” she said.
Iryna enjoyed the Multiply workshops, finding they offered practical guidance. The budgeting exercises helped her understand how to manage her money and she was able to follow the discussions, which boosted her confidence with the English language.
Iryna also liked the challenges in the extended learning experience, which she found rewarding. It helped her recall and apply numeracy concepts and processes she hadn’t used in a long time, reinforcing her love for maths. More importantly, it provided a safe space to practise English in a structured, purposeful way.
Multiply was more than just a maths refresher for Iryna - it became a confidence-building tool.
“It made me feel more confident. I learnt new terminology and had to remember numeracy concepts and processes that I haven’t used in a long while.”[TH1]
The course strengthened her understanding of English in a work-relevant context, introducing her to new numerical terminology while reinforcing key mathematical skills. Participating in group discussions gave her opportunities to listen, process information, and respond in English, helping her feel more at ease in conversations.
Engaging in problem-solving tasks in a classroom environment also mirrored the type of learning and communication she’d encounter in a teaching assistant role, making it an invaluable experience for her job search.
By the end of the course, Iryna felt more self-assured and capable of handling numeracy-related tasks in an English-speaking workplace. Her journey with Multiply highlights how numeracy courses can go beyond maths, supporting English language development, workplace confidence, and overall employability.
By refreshing her skills, learning new terminology, and engaging in structured discussions, Iryna strengthened her numeracy abilities and took a significant step toward integrating into the UK job market.
