Hi Carl
I joined this site back in January and I think the best solution is a college course - if you are able to get onto one. I am struggling...still but I am determined to succeed somehow. The level 3 course (in Sep) is 1,500 pounds but is less expensive than a lot of courses that offer correspondence and you aren't in the workshop that much, which I think wouldn't be at all a good idea! Good luck and I hope you find a course suitable. I had to take a numeracy test last Feb to get onto the course and then waited to see if I had succeeded. It can be hard at 3 nights a week, but the tutors are great and they are patient thankfully. One of the best books I have found is Collins (as well as Muscroft and JTL that college recommend). The Collins one is labelled well and is for absolute beginners.
Sorry to those who replied to my message when I first joined as I couldn't for some reason get back into the forum!! Struggling One...