Refugees from all over the world are being supported to build their lives in the UK with the support of the first Eddie Byers awards.

The grants, created in memory of the late chief executive of English UK, aim to enrich and support individuals and communities through English language teaching. The money was raised by Eddie's family, friends, English UK members and staff.

"Seeing the applications arrive and how they will change people's lives is amazing. I can't tell you how much it means to me," said Eddie's wife, Sam.

Projects are using the money to buy teaching materials suitable for adults, expanding teaching facilities, and providing specific reading support and help to achieve Ielts levels needed to access UK education.

RefuAid in London helps refugees to get qualifications for work and education, including Ielts, and often works with English UK members.

Oasis in Ipswich is using its grant to buy books and cover the expensive of its volunteer teachers who teach around 33 different nationalities, giving them the language skills to integrate into the local community.

Bristol Refugee Rights is using its money to fund a specific project to support reading skills, including a crèche to allow people to attend, and to buy reading material.

Asylum Link in Liverpool, which teaches English to around a hundred people a week in a former priests' house, wants to renovate a teaching room and expand into upper floors of the building, and buy teaching and reading material more suitable for adults.

A new round of funding will be awarded in 2018. Find out more about the fund.