Gymnasts from Ascension Eagles Cheerleaders (AEC) are hoping to win a new award in a championship of a different kind.

The Beckton-based athletes have applied for up to £10,000 in the Aviva Community Fund awards, a national competition in which 800 community projects bid to receive funding from £1,000 to £25,000.

AEC director, and former student, Angela Green is appealing to the Newham community to vote for them.

She says the funds would enable the club to focus on the “education attainment” of its attendees.

She said: “Our club has never been just about teaching physical activity.

“For us the education is also important. We applied to put the money towards the educational attainment of our kids.

“We’ve got a mentoring scheme. We have a school teacher who works with parents. We’re challenging kids to read more.”

AEC has supported thousands of children over the last 21 years by “not only improving their health but also making better life choices”.

Angela said: “I grew up playing and I’m lucky because I’ve got parents who pushed me and I think that giving local young people more choices is so important.”

The multi award-winning club, which is open to girls and boys from the ages of 5-25, is competing against 229 other projects in its category.

Voting closes on November 18. Finalists will be announced on November 22 and the winners will be delared on January 10.

Click here to place your vote for AEC or to find out more