Mansfield MP urges mining charity Ciswo to work with community after it denied hoarding £30m
A Mansfield MP has urged a mining charity to “work with, not against” the community after it denied it is “constructing a £30m ivory tower”.
The calls come after accusations by Labour MP Ian Lavery that Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (Ciswo) was failing former mineworkers’ communities.
Ian Lavery claimed in Prime Minister’s Questions that the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (Ciswo) is allowing community facilities to “rot” while amassing millions of pounds.
The former mineworker called on the Charity Commission to investigate.
Mansfield MP Steve Yemm said: “CISWO has a responsibility to work with, not against, the former mining communities it was created to serve. I urge the organisation to engage openly with local people and ensure its decisions reflect the interests and heritage of the communities that built it.”
In the Commons, Ian Lavery MP for Blyth and Ashington said the charity had “carried out some incredible work with some incredible employees, but the current leadership team is increasingly detached from its founding principles”.
He added: “Miners’ welfare, sporting facilities, community facilities have been allowed to rot, they’ve been allowed to close with little or no support from Ciswo, the charity,
“And at the same time Ciswo has amassed £30m in the bank.
“Does the Prime Minister agree that it’s time that the charity faced not only a Charity Commission inquiry but also a serious reform into the policies and practices and finances, and should benefit the former mining communities it was founded to serve, instead of constructing a £30m ivory tower for the future?”
The Prime Minister replied: “It is imperative that these communities are listened to. I understand that the Charity Commission has opened a compliance case, I’ll get that confirmed for him.
“I’m proud that this Government stood up for mining communities, including ending the injustice of coal pension schemes, increasing the pensions of over 150,000 former British Coal employees, and I thank him for raising this case.”
The Charity Commission said: "We have an ongoing regulatory compliance case to explore concerns raised with us about the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation.
“As part of this, we have met with the charity's trustees to gather more information. This will help us determine what, if any, regulatory role there is for the Commission."
Ciswo’s chief executive Nicola Didlock denied that the charity, based in Rotherham, was sitting on £30m.
She said: “The suggestion that the charity has amassed £30 million in the bank’ is simply misleading.
“The figure in question relates to investments and assets used to deliver our charitable purpose over the long term.
“These assets directly underpin support for miners’ welfare organisations, as well as services for former miners and their families, and the protection of open spaces that communities continue to rely on.”
She added: “We are deeply disappointed that Ian Lavery MP chose to raise these concerns at PMQs, using parliamentary privilege, without first taking the time to speak directly with us.
“Given the importance and sensitivity of this work for former miners, their families and coalfield communities, we believe those conversations should always begin with dialogue, not public assertion.”
Mick Newton, who worked at Thoresby Colliery for 15 year has launched a petition on behalf of The UK Mineworkers Social Welfare Campaign calling on the Government to investigate the administration and decision making of Ciswo. The petition currently has 3,000 signatures.
He added: "For decades we have witnessed the wholesale closures of our Welfare's, sporting and recreational facilities, not to mention our convalescent homes.
"The sale of these facilities has raised vast amounts and we need to know how much and where the money has been spent.
"Currently Ciswo is sat on £30 Million and we must ensure this is reinvested into former Coalfield Communities.
"Some regions seem to do better than others regarding the distribution of Ciswo's services and therefore we seek some regional parity.
"Ciswo has existed since 1920 and has done some remarkable things, it has been the bedrock and the social fabric of many a community, but sadly we now see an erosion of those services that needs to be checked and balanced.
"This is the miners' money, not the Government's or the taxpayer's and we need to have more authority over the decision-making process for Ciswo."