Student statistics, a panel discussion about Brexit opportunities and an explorer who claims to have eaten his own dog were among the highlights of the biggest-ever English UK annual conference.

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.

UK ELT showed a mixed performance in both the state and private sectors in 2018, according to the annual student statistics report.

The Eddie Byers Fund is now open to applications to fund projects that use English language teaching to change lives for the better.

Applicants must be registered UK charities looking for funding for a specific project or activity that uses English language teaching to enrich and support individuals and communities. The Eddie Byers Fund is a grant scheme that helps to change lives through learning.