A CREWE charity which lays on activities for youngsters with special needs has received funding for a sensory projector from a council crowdfunder.

Hopes & Beams is to get £3,446 from Cheshire East Council to support the introduction of a community sensory projector to stimulate collaborative activity and play at the charity's base in Broad Street.

The council pledged up to £10,000 to 11 community-led projects, which were selected from almost 20 ideas from community groups and individuals that want to improve their local area.

The crowdfunding campaigns are the first projects put forward as part of the council's Cheshire East Crowd – a programme run in partnership with civic crowdfunding website Spacehive, which invites communities to come together and propose ideas to regenerate their local areas.

Cllr Mick Warren, chair of the council's environment and communities committee, said: "The Cheshire East Crowd represents a pioneering way for people to drive the change what they want to see in their local area from the grass roots up.

"We're thrilled to pledge support to an extraordinary range of local ideas that will strengthen local places."

The 11 pledges of funds are part of a larger programme looking to invest up to £100,000 per year into projects across Cheshire East over the next three years.

Anyone from the borough has the opportunity to play their role by proposing ideas, supporting campaigns and providing the skills and resources to help projects flourish.

The current round of donations also include a £926 award towards the restoration of a canal footpath at Wheelock Wharf.

Chris Gourlay, founder and chief executive officer of Spacehive, said: "Spacehive's shared mission is to empower as many people as possible to shape their local area. We believe that if we can achieve that, people will feel a stronger sense of local belonging."

Hopes & Beams provides sports, arts, teaching and activities for children and young adults with disabilities or additional needs. It aims to help people with disabilities discover their potential through sports, teaching and recreation.

It also supports older members of the community with Alzheimers or Mental Health issues or who are just lonely by providing lunches and activities.

Currently, it is one of Cheshire East Mayor Sarah Pochin's chosen charities for 2021/2022.