Grant to help ex-miners with bills

A CHARITY is offering a £200 grant to former coal miners to help them cope with the rise in fuel costs.

The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) has launched the scheme to provide some support following the huge hike in the energy price cap which came into effect in April.

The one-off grant will be available to former coal miners, or their partners or widows, who are particularly vulnerable due to being on a low income, live in their own home and are responsible for paying for energy costs.

It is also only available to former mineworkers with 10 years’ service in the industry or those whose last place of work was in the industry.

Only one grant is available per household from CISWO.

The latest fuel price rises will see millions of people having to pay around £700 more each year to heat their homes. And with former miners often suffering from health issues, poor mobility and managing on low incomes, they may be disproportionately impacted by the changes.

CISWO chief executive Nicola Didlock said: “We are very aware that many of our beneficiaries are vulnerable and susceptible to the cold, especially those on low incomes and trying to cope with ill-health, mobility issues and older properties to maintain.

“We want to ensure that those individuals are identified and supported to keep warm and healthy, particularly during the colder months as the energy price rise begins to impact those most affected.”

CISWO’S personal welfare team will be identifying people in need and supporting them to get the help they are entitled to. As well as the CISWO grant, they will help people obtain other financial aid and subsidies from the Government.

For more information about the £200 CISWO grant, visit www.ciswo. org.uk or call 01443 485 233.