The Millennium Mathematics Project (MMP) is a maths education initiative for ages 5 to 19 and the general public, based at the University of Cambridge and active nationally and internationally. We aim to support maths education and promote the development of mathematical skills and understanding, particularly through enrichment activities. More broadly, we want to help everyone share in the excitement and understand the importance of mathematics.

The project consists of a family of complementary programmes, each of which has a particular focus (download an overview of our activities here):

The enormously popular NRICH website publishes thousands of free resources for students aged 5 to 19 and their teachers, designed to enrich mathematical learning and particularly develop problem solving skills.

Plus is a free online magazine opening a door to the world of maths, aimed at older students (16+) and the general public through lively and accessible articles, news reports and podcasts. Plus also includes a library of careers interviews.

Maths and Sport: Countdown to the Games is an exciting new project developing free online resources for Key Stages 1 to 5 exploring maths through the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Our long-running Motivate programme developed several free online multi-media resource packs. Topics covered include Maths and Health (KS3-4), Disease Dynamics (KS4) and Babylonian Maths (KS2/3).

We visit schools all over the UK and abroad with the Hands-On Maths Roadshow, presenting creative methods of exploring mathematics; the Enigma Project, running workshops on codes and cryptography; our Risk and Probability Show, helping students explore real-world examples of probability in action; and the new Maths of Sport Roadshow. NRICH staff also run problem-solving workshops and masterclasses for pupils, and professional development events for teachers.

Our local activities include:

• the East of England Further Mathematics Support Programme - teaching, support and promotion of Further Maths A-level
• free mathematics events in Cambridge throughout the year for schools, families and the general public, especially for the annual Cambridge Science Festival
• the STIMULUS programme, which creates over 200 placements each year for Cambridge student volunteers in local schools to assist with maths and science classes

In the 2010/11 academic year our web-based mathematical resources attracted more than 4.7 million visits from users worldwide and more than 19.9 million page views, while over 35,000 pupils and more than 4,900 teachers were involved in our face-to-face activities and events.

The MMP’s various programmes have won many awards and our resources have been repeatedly commended by the UK Government’s Department for Education (formerly the Department for Children, Schools and Families). In 2006 the Queen presented the project with the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education (the counterpart to the Queen’s Award for Industry), honouring ‘outstanding achievement and excellence’ at world-class level.