The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. Don't spend time on an approach; the similar funders below support the same kind of work.
Key takeaways
- The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation does not accept unsolicited requests, so approach it only by invitation, and miners' welfare trustees should contact their CISWO Regional Development Manager to discuss funding needs.
- Organisations other than miners' welfare charities should not apply to the Small Grants Programme or for Recreational Facilities Funding, as both are limited to them.
- Where a request does fit, the typical grant to an organisation falls between £5,900 and £20,000, and Small Grants are up to £2,000, so a modest, well-scoped request suits this funder best.
- Education grant applications for courses starting in September can be made between 1 March and 1 December, and the funder's work is for former coal miners, their dependants and miners' welfare charities, so check your organisation fits before making contact.
Overview
The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1015581).
The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation exists to improve the lives of individuals and communities facing disadvantage because of the coal mining industry, through support, improved resources and the protection of recreational land. It works in three areas: supporting former miners and their dependent families, supporting mining charities to be sustainable, and protecting recreational land in former mining communities. It says it helps more than 200 independent mining charities continue to provide essential recreational and social facilities in local communities.
What they fund
Priority Areas
CISWO supports former coal miners and their dependent families through tailored welfare services and individual grants, including education grants for eligible people in higher education. It also offers grants and loans to miners’ welfare charities to maintain and develop recreational facilities and services for local communities. Its Small Grants Programme supports practical improvements, urgent compliance needs, new community-benefiting activities and standalone projects; larger recreational-facilities funding can support capital work, development costs, refurbishment and repairs. Alongside funding, CISWO provides mining charities with guidance and governance support to help them remain sustainable. It also protects recreational land in former mining communities for future generations. Its work serves people and communities affected by the coal mining industry across the UK.
Themes
- Former miners and families
- Education grants
- Miners’ welfare charities
- Recreational facilities
Geographic Focus
Priority: UK.
What they don't fund
- Small Grants Programme only: organisations other than miners’ welfare charities
- Recreational Facilities Grants only: organisations other than miners’ welfare charities
- Education grants only:
- applicants who were not employed in the coal mining industry of Great Britain
- former mineworkers who have not completed the required length of service
- dependent children of former employees who are not financially dependent on their parents
- families without demonstrable low income
- dependent children who are 17 or younger, or 25 or older, at the start of the academic year for which the grant is required
How to apply
Miners’ welfare trustees can contact their CISWO Regional Development Manager to discuss funding needs.
Application windows:
- Education grants: Applications can be submitted between 1 March and 1 December for courses starting in September.
Who can apply:
- Small Grants to help deliver practical improvements: specifically for miners’ welfare charities.
- Applications for Recreational Facilities Funding must come from the trustees of the charity, although this may be in collaboration with a user group, for example a football club.
What to send:
- Education grants: A completed application form, a copy of your student finance award and evidence of enrolment.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- For Recreational Facilities Funding, projects must develop, sustain or increase recreational activities and be charitable.
- The Small Grants Programme supports new activities that benefit local communities.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- United Kingdom
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 13 grants in year to 31 December 2025 by size
Median £8,538 (year to 31 December 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in this funder’s latest annual report:
- Mexborough Miners Welfare Institute and Recreation Ground£50,000year to 31 December 2025
- Kilburn Miners' Welfare Trust£20,000year to 31 December 2025
- Linby Miners Welfare Recreation Ground£16,486year to 31 December 2025
- Llay Miners Welfare Institute and Recreation Ground£11,655year to 31 December 2025
- Ifton Miners’ Welfare Institute£10,000year to 31 December 2025
- Elphinstone Miners’ Charitable Society£9,258year to 31 December 2025
- Birch Coppice Miners’ Social Welfare Centre£8,538year to 31 December 2025
- Dodworth Miners Welfare Scheme£7,926year to 31 December 2025
Grant examples taken from the funder’s filed accounts. Not included above: 1 line covering other, unnamed recipients (£11,036).
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2021 | £2,887,652 | £3,317,688 | £266,548 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £1,670,581 | £3,810,193 | £165,995 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £2,285,368 | £3,494,362 | £74,618 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £2,044,277 | £3,342,242 | £154,785 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
| year to 31 December 2025 | £1,379,646 | £5,126,035 | £176,250 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023; year to 31 December 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2025: grants awarded in the year, as reported in the accounts.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- ciswo.org.uk/about-us/our-work · read on 30 October 2026
- ciswo.org.uk/helping-you/education-grants · read on 30 October 2026
- ciswo.org.uk/small-grants-programme · read on 30 October 2026
- ciswo.org.uk · read on 30 October 2026
- ciswo.org.uk/contact · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 01709 728115source
- mail@ciswo.org.uksource
- The Old Rectory, Rectory Drive, Whiston, Rotherham S60 4JG.source
- ciswo.org.uk
Applying to The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 01709 728115source
- mail@ciswo.org.uksource
- The Old Rectory, Rectory Drive, Whiston, Rotherham S60 4JG.source
- ciswo.org.uk