The CISWO One Stop Shop Project has its roots in the Coalfields Taskforce Report
1998 which recommended that "Local regeneration partnerships should ensure
that every coalfield community has ready access, no more than a bus ride away,
to a one stop shop or similar facility". A further comment stated "in
choosing a suitable building, the Miners' Welfare will often be the obvious
first choice". The government's response to this report, Making the
Difference 1998, stated in relation to this specific recommendation that "The
government fully endorse this recommendation. Supporting regeneration
partnerships, the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) and Citizens
Advice Bureaux to achieve this will be a key focus of the Coalfields
Regeneration Trust."
It was on this basis that CISWO made a successful application to the Community
Fund for seven staff for a period of two and a half years to develop 25 One Stop
Shops. The team comprises six Community Development Officers, based in each
CISWO regional office and a co-ordinator based at headquarters.
The Project has been in operation since 1999 and, after successfully applying
for a further development bid from the Community Fund, will continue to operate
until 2005.
A further 20 Miners' Welfare schemes are to participate in this initiative until
May 2005.
