LONDON, Mar 1: Rishi Sunak, the former Prime Minister of the UK, and his spouse Akshata Murty announced their intentions on Saturday to establish a new charity aimed at enhancing mathematics and numeracy skills among children and young adults in England.
The Richmond Project, named after their home and Sunak’s constituency in North Yorkshire, will be officially launched as a registered charity later this year.
This initiative represents the first significant collaborative effort by the couple, both aged 44, since Sunak’s departure from 10 Downing Street last year and is designed to assist schoolchildren in developing confidence in handling numerical tasks.
“Akshata and I are excited to unveil The Richmond Project – a new charity dedicated to improving numeracy,” Sunak shared on social media.
“Mastering numbers can change lives. It opens doors to opportunities, enhances social mobility, and empowers individuals to succeed. Unfortunately, many are currently facing challenges. More updates will follow soon,” he stated.
Akshata Murty expressed on her Instagram that the charity reflects their mutual commitment to the transformative power of education.
“Maths anxiety is a real issue, but confidence is the starting point for opportunity! Later this year, we will be launching The Richmond Project, a charity devoted to helping individuals gain confidence with numbers—because we truly believe that numeracy paves the way for opportunities,” she noted.
“Presently, half of working-age adults in the UK struggle with low numeracy skills. This affects crucial areas such as employment, managing household finances, and day-to-day activities. We have both witnessed how education can drastically change lives. Now, we want to enable more young people and adults to gain confidence in numerical skills, leading to a more fulfilling life.”
The daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy mentioned that the project is still in its early stages but encouraged her followers to stay tuned for further information.
During her tenure at Downing Street, Murty initiated the “Lessons at 10” program, which provided children from all over the UK a chance to experience the inner workings of the iconic black door—the residence and office of the British Prime Minister in London.
While serving as Prime Minister in 2023, Sunak initiated a review to ensure that all students in England engage with some form of mathematics until the age of 18, as part of his initiative to shift what he described as an “anti-maths mindset” that he felt was hindering the country’s progress.
The former investment banker also promised to expand Maths Hubs, unique collaborations between schools and colleges dedicated to improving maths education.
Earlier this week, Sunak took on an additional charitable role as the ambassador for the UK’s Prostate Cancer Research.
“Prostate cancer is now the most prevalent cancer in the UK—yet we still lack a national screening program for the most vulnerable groups,” he remarked during a discussion in the House of Commons, urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to implement a targeted screening initiative for the condition.
In January, the British Indian politician accepted new academic positions at the University of Oxford and Stanford University in the US. (PTI)
