Worcestershire County Council Helps “Multiply’ Support for County Charity

The animal-themed art trail, an annual fundraising event in the city features eighty creatively designed penguin statues for an eight-week celebration. The sponsorship by the two learning services has been made possible through funding from UK government’s ‘Multiply’ programme, which offers free numeracy courses to anyone aged over 19 without a GCSE at Grade C or equivalent. Multiply aims to give people skills to boost confidence with, and the ability to use maths and numbers in daily life, at home and work.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Skills, said: “I am really looking forward to seeing the Waddle of Worcester take shape next summer, and I’m really pleased that, through funding from UK Government’s Multiply programme, our Adult and Young Adult Learning Worcestershire teams can be a part of it. Multiply allows us to offer free maths courses, unlocking skills and opportunities for so many people across the county, and emphasises our commitment to help boost residents’ skills for employability. Additionally, the penguin statues are more than just art; it’s about bringing communities together, promoting learning, and supporting a fantastic cause. I can't wait to see them standing tall, showcasing the creativity and unity that makes Worcestershire so special.”

Judy Gibbs, Worcestershire County Council’s Head of Skills and Investment, highlighted the importance of continued learning, “Just as you’re never too old to enjoy a happy waddle of penguins, you’re never too old to continue your learning journey. Adult Learning Worcestershire and Young Adult Learning Worcestershire are here to help people across the county transform their lives and find pathways they never thought were open to them by learning new skills, such as numeracy. 2024 marks Learning Services Worcestershire’s 15th anniversary – what better way to celebrate than by having penguins join our next chapter!”

The penguin trail brings together organisations from across the county with artists crafting unique designs for each sculpture. At the trail's conclusion, each penguin will be auctioned to support the ongoing care provided by St Richard’s Hospice.

Sara Matthews, Business Development Manager for St Richard’s Hospice, added: “It’s fantastic to see Learning Services Worcestershire and Multiply coming together to sponsor an adult and baby penguin. As an event that’s all about bringing people together, it’s wonderful to see this from our supporters too.”

For more information on Multiply courses available from Adult Learning Worcestershire visit their courses website here and for more information on Adult Learning and Young Adult Learning Worcestershire you can find them on social media platforms as @adultlearnworcs and @YALworcs.