Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation 2014

CISWO funds a range of causes including education and skills, poverty and hardship, physical health, disability, older people, community development, and sport and recreation. They support training costs for higher education, core costs, equipment, emergency needs, capital works, and project delivery. Their work is focused on historic coalfield regions across England, Scotland, and Wales. Specific funded activities include higher education grants for former mineworkers and their dependent children, individual grants for former miners and dependants including those with pneumoconiosis, and development of recreational facilities for mining charities such as miners' welfares and regional trusts. They also provide advisory support on governance and sustainability alongside financial assistance.

CISWO supports individuals who are former mineworkers or their dependants, with education grants available for dependent children aged 17 to 24 from low-income families. Individual grants are for former miners and dependants meeting specific criteria. Organisations eligible include mining charities such as miners' welfares, regional miners welfare trust funds, and miners' convalescent charities. Beneficiary groups prioritised include veterans (former miners), young people, older people, disabled people, and rural communities. All funding is rooted in the coalfield heritage, so applicants must have a direct connection to the mining industry.

CISWO does not fund individuals who are not former miners or their dependants. Education grants are only available to dependent children within the specified age range and with demonstrable low income. Organisations outside the mining charity sector, such as general community groups or non-mining charities, are not supported. Projects unrelated to coalfield communities or the legacy of mining are excluded.

CISWO provides tailored grants for individuals, often arranged through a personal welfare team as part of a wider support package. For mining charities, they offer both grants and loans, along with advisory support on governance, funding access, and sustainability planning. They fund core costs, project costs, capital works, and equipment. Their approach is partnership-based, working closely with local mining charities and welfare teams.