English UK has issued a call for applications to the second round of scholarships in memory of its late chief executive Eddie Byers.

The fund will award £10,000 in total and applications are now open for UK charities, that can apply for up to £2,500 in funding each.

Applications close on 31 May 2018.

The scholarship fund was created to celebrate Byers’s passion for English language education after he suddenly passed away in 2015.

It supports specific projects which broaden access to the opportunities afforded by English language learning and qualifications,  both in education and employment, for individuals and communities from a disadvantaged background.

Last year, the first round of the scholarship fund helped charities support refugees learning English and gaining education and professional qualifications.

“Eddie’s family and colleagues were delighted that scholarships in his name were able to touch the lives of some of the poorest people in this country, helping them to integrate into their communities and use their skills to give something back to the UK,” said Helen Kind, English UK’s lead on corporate social responsibility.

The four winning charities used their grants to buy teaching material and renovate classrooms, cover the expenses of their volunteer teachers or help refugees get English language qualifications.

Funding for up to £2,500 per winning project is available each year – for an initial three years. The fund relies on donations and funds raised by English UK.

The association is planning to start fundraising “very soon,” Kind said.

In 2016, shortly after the creation of the scholarship fund, the English UK team raised £16,000 after climbing the three highest peaks in the UK in 24 hours.