‘EVERYBODY Counts’ - Maths is more than rulers, protractors and calculators, writes Lucinda Guy.

How maths relates to everyday life, from poetry to music, and beyond.

When you think of maths, you probably think of sitting in a classroom staring at a blackboard trying to understand what a teacher is explaining to you as it goes in one ear and out the next. 

Unless you’re one of the gifted few that naturally understand maths, it’s perfectly reasonable that you might try and avoid it.

But you’re probably using maths a lot more often than you realise – from working out which deal in the supermarket is cheaper to figuring out how to pay your bills, our old friend Maths shows up more often than you might think.

Now people in Devon are invited to take part in the new series of workshop ‘Everybody Counts’, which aims to show those disenchanted with the subject how it can enrich their lives - and how they’re interacting with it without realising.

Maybe you never achieved a qualification, have dyscalculia, or feel maths isn’t for you - if so, this course will show you how maths can be fun, creative, and even exciting! 

Armed with fresh ideas from ‘Everybody Counts’, you’ll soon have the confidence to move forward in a numerical world - and best of all, it’s free!

The series of workshops will take place on Saturday afternoons, with sessions running from 1.30 to 4pm, on February 25, March 4, March 11, and March 18, simultaneously at four different venues across south Devon.

Venues include -

► Skylark, Buckfastleigh

► The Jolly Farmer, Newton Abbot

► The Old School Centre, South Brent

► The Angel Gallery, Totnes

The project will be delivered in partnership with mathematicians from Exeter University, who will share their cutting-edge research with people throughout the community.

The workshops will emphasise the relevance of maths in many areas of our lives, such as healthcare, personal finance, and our relationship with nature. 

Participants will learn maths concepts and skills through activities such as music, art, cooking, puzzles, and games, all delivered by mathematicians and artists working together. 

Some activities are designed to show people how they are already using maths in everyday life, for example, ‘critical path analysis’ – the ability to perform tasks in a logical order.

At the workshops, participants will also get the chance to make recordings for a radio series.

This will include participants describing what they are learning, interviews with professional mathematicians, and intriguing puzzles for audiences to ponder, plus a few tips for everyday situations such as understanding data or managing money.

Organiser Lucinda Guy said: ‘Everybody counts is a great opportunity for those who are not a fan of maths to reconnect with the beauty and wonder of it by doing creative and fun things together.

'Maths is all around us and after attending Everybody Counts you’ll be able to spot it in places you never imagined.

‘Furthermore, the day will be fun and completely free – so come along, get involved! There will also be free coffee, tea, and cake!’