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Darts used to promote adult numeracy

Playing a game of darts is a good way of strengthening your numeracy skills, said the Minister for Skills and Vocational Education, Ivan Lewis.

He made his comments during a recent visit to the World Professional Darts Championships at Lakeside to promote adult numeracy learning with the British Darts Organisation (BDO).

‘We are joining forces with the BDO to highlight the amazing agility in numeracy that darts players can acquire and promote free courses available for people to improve their literacy and numeracy,’ Lewis told those present. ‘With the right training any adult who feels they lack a talent for numbers should be able to gain confidence. I welcome the new focus on darts and other leisure and sporting activities to help people realise there is no mystery to gaining a useful skill in numeracy.’

He added: ‘Darts is a fun way to sharpen up your number skills but our “Get On” Campaign for adult skills also offers many simple, enjoyable training courses in maths, reading and language that can achieve quick results. “Get On” is having a real impact on adult’s lives and we have just reached our target to help three-quarters of a million adults gain a first national certificate in literacy and numeracy.’

The “Get On” campaign material includes new scratchcards and "check-out" calculators to publicise details of free courses. The aim is to inspire people to improve their maths to help them in all walks of life.

Other leading players and number-crunchers have also commented on the numeracy skills needed to play the game well.

Carol Vorderman, darts fan and supporter of the “Get On” campaign, commented: ‘Many people want to improve their skills to get on, but they are intimidated by the thought of going back to education to face the equations and fractions. A sport like darts is great, as it shows that maths isn’t a dry subject. It’s astonishing how fast darts players calculate their score and then deduct it from a target like 501.’

If you want to improve your numeracy or literacy skills for use away from the darts board, then call 0800 100 900 to find out about the free courses on offer.