Here's an idea

We decided to run numeracy and literacy courses for our staff to raise their personal skills and so they, in turn, can help the tenants.

It is better for the organisation to have workers who have good basic understanding of reading, writing and maths because it means that people can do their jobs more effectively.

When we started doing these courses three years ago, we sent people to the local college. But there were problems with attendance because not everyone can make time for college.

We got into a situation where people weren't turning up for their lessons and the tutors refused to teach because the class was too small to be worth running.

Another problem was that people became frustrated when the college shut for 10 to 12 weeks over the summer. They felt that by the time they went back they had lost or forgotten a lot of the skills they had gained.

So we decided to employ a consultant who goes into our offices around the country and holds classes for between eight and 14 people. The courses run over eight days, for about five hours a day. The days are not consecutive because the sessions can be very intense emotionally.

People really appreciate the lessons. For instance in Cumbria, our staff now go into tenants' homes and help them with form filling and household budgeting.

This scheme is really important because people with poor basic skills hide it very well. They can go through life never improving themselves.