From schoolchildren in Africa and the Middle East, to refugees in the UK – it was the year when the Eddie Byers Fund broadened its reach to support a huge range of people to transform their lives through learning English.

Our five 2018 projects have all been completed, transforming the lives of many of those involved. We're now seeking more projects to sponsor for 2019 in the hope of making another big difference to people's lives.

Registered charities that would like to apply for grants of up to £2,500 to fund a specific project which would transform lives through language learning are welcome to apply to the Eddie Byers Fund before Friday 7 June 2019.

What did the projects we funded do with the money?

	The Tanzania Development Trust used its grant to get three months of lessons for children about to start their first secondary year in four schools and help them cope with all lessons being in English for the first time. "Students and teachers all said they are much more confident – they've been in secondary school for five months now and they are much more confident in speaking in class, answering questions and their test scores are much better than the previous year that obviously didn't have any of that," says Janet Chapman from the development trust.
	The Hands Up Project taught 180 secondary teachers in Palestine how to run after-school drama clubs for their students, helping to improve their English skills. Nick Bilbrough of Hands Up said: "It's a fantastic learning experience to make a play in English. It's got everything in – language learning, speaking, reading, writing English and pronunciation and grammar.
	Asylum Link Merseyside used its grant to extend its curriculum to "walk and talk" classes in and around the city. "They are all adults and often professional people but have no confidence, and getting them out of the classroom is very important. It's an extension to the curriculum," says Bridie Sharkey of Asylum Link.
	ASHA used the money to train volunteers to teach beginners' English to asylum-seekers, adding to the numbers who are already teaching higher-level students. "They have been feeding back how much better they have felt about the teaching, we have noticed we've had more referrals, and we have been able to teach 71 students this year. It's all because of your funding," says Barbara Enid James of ASHA.
	Oasis English Language School in Ipswich used its £500 grant to buy course books for each of its 70 students from 23 nations. "It definitely made a difference. We really think students felt that by having a book they can see progress and it helps our volunteer teachers who know where each of them are," says Linda Pepper of Oasis School.