A GRANDMOTHER-of-two is hoping to inspire other adults throughout the region to boost their reading, writing and maths skills.

Andrea McCulloch, 45, is backing the Get On North-East campaign after achieving a maths qualification.

The campaign is aiming to improve essential life skills among the estimated 400,000 adults across the North-East who have difficulties with basic academic skills.

Mrs McCulloch has been working as a learning support worker at the Pioneering Care Centre, which is a first of its kind one-stop-shop resource centre in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

She is also studying teaching part-time at Bishop Auckland College, and is working towards taking a degree in the future.

Until recently she had only a low grade numeracy qualification, having married at an early age and working as a registered childminder for much of her life.

The Pioneering Care Centre is funded by a variety of sources, including the Learning and Skills Council County Durham and Ufi/learndirect.

Last year Mrs McCulloch started her Level 1 National Test in numeracy and has just successfully completed her Level 2 test, which is the equivalent of an A-C grade in maths at GCSE level.

She said: "I am delighted to get this qualification. In the past I have had to turn down a lot of opportunities because they required a formal maths qualification, but now I am looking forward to updating my CV.

"I would definitely recommend it to anyone who doesn't have basic maths qualifications, and the best thing was that the whole course and test was completely free."

There are a range of free skills-for-life courses in reading, writing and maths available at The Pioneering Care Centre and other centres across the region

To find out what is available, call the Get On campaign line on 0800 100 900.