Management and trustees

Nicola has worked in the voluntary sector for over 20 years, working with both national and local social care charities. With a background in community development, drug and alcohol services, criminal justice and children and family services, Nicola has held senior roles in operational delivery, business development, marketing and fundraising. She joined CISWO as Chief Executive in August 2016 and has overall responsibility for the development of the organisation’s strategic direction and delivery of the strategic plan. Brought up in South Yorkshire, Nicola has spent a considerable amount of her career working in former mining communities both locally and nationally.

Janine was appointed as Finance Director in 2017 and is responsible for finance, IT, Health & Safety and leads the team that provides accounting services to miners welfare's through CISWO (Trading) Limited. Working alongside the Chief Executive, she also has a primary role in delivering the organisation’s strategic plan. Janine joined CISWO in 2009 bringing with her over 20 years of experience in accounting practice. Janine is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales having originally trained, qualified and worked in the accounting profession with Deloitte LLP.

With over 20 years’ experience in the charity sector, Becky has dedicated her career to supporting children, young people, and families living in disadvantage, mainly in former coal mining areas across the Midlands and Yorkshire. With a background in community development, arts, cultural heritage, and physical wellbeing, for the past 18 years she has held senior roles in local and national charities, initially at Arts Council England, focusing on income generation, marketing, and business development. As a member of the Institute of Fundraising, she has raised over £30 million and coached over 200 voluntary sector partners to sustain and grow services. Appointed Director of Business Development in 2024, Becky will work with the Directorate team to deliver on strategic plans leading on income generation and asset management.

The Venerable Bob Cooper joined CISWO’s Board of Trustees as Chair in 2014. As a Church of England priest for over 25 years, Bob has worked in urban and mainly mining communities and has been involved with mining charities from when he was a vicar in Pontefract. Currently Archdeacon of Sunderland, a senior position in the Diocese of Durham, Bob is passionate about enabling people to have every chance to succeed in life, and bringing people together to benefit the community. As a Trustee of many charities, Bob has twenty years’ experience in the voluntary governance sector.

Carole became a Trustee in 2015, is Vice Chair and a member of the Quality and Impact Committee. Carole was born and brought up in a Yorkshire coal-mining community with family connections to the industry and has a particular interest in supporting the development and delivery of CISWO’s personal welfare service. A Registered General Nurse and Health Visitor, she has worked in a variety of roles and places over the last 40 years, beginning in Rotherham and currently working in Durham with other areas in-between. Since 1995 she has held a variety of Director-level posts in health care organisations covering direct delivery of care services, commissioning of services and planning/policy roles.

Patrick was appointed as a Trustee in 2014. A member of the Audit and Risk Committee, Patrick worked for the British Association of Colliery Management for 35 years across the British coalfield and was the General Secretary for 19 years. He was awarded an MBE in 2017 and enjoys working as a chef for a Jewish/Muslim/Christian inter-faith initiative providing meals weekly in a deprived part of Nottingham. He is also a Trustee of the Yorkshire Miners Welfare Trust Fund and a Trustee of the National Coal Mining Museum for England.

Jon was appointed as a trustee in February 2023 and is a member of the Finance & General Purpose Committee. He was born and brought up in Sheffield, where he still lives. With a degree in Economics, Jon has worked in the stockbroking and investment management sectors since 1987. He is a Senior Investment Director at Investec Wealth & Investment, based in Sheffield, and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. Jon has wide experience as a charity trustee and has a keen interest in the provision of support to mining communities.

Appointed as Trustee in 2006, John is also a member of the Audit & Risk Committee. From a mining family, John has considerable experience of working in the social housing and charity sectors. John is a qualified accountant and former Chief Executive of Durham Aged Mineworkers Homes. He also served as a Trustee of The National Association of Alms-houses and Age Concern Durham.

Christine joined CISWO’s Board in 2001 and since then has been elected Chair of the HR, Remuneration and Recruitment Committee. Having been employed in the coal industry for 40 years as a Human Resources Specialist, Christine worked across the majority of the English and Welsh coalfields, working with the mining trade unions in her HR capacity. Born into a mining community and with family members previously employed in the industry, Christine has maintained a keen interest in former mining areas and is passionate about health and welfare for those who live there.

Michael became a Trustee in September 2022 and is also a member of the Quality and Impact Committee. Michael is the Director of Integrated Community Services for the County Durham Care Partnership and has extensive experience in the care and housing sectors at an operational and strategic level. Michael’s family members have worked in the coal industry in the North East and the Midlands and he is passionate about using his skills and knowledge to shape the future delivery of services to former mineworkers and mining communities.

Joining the Board in 2022, Helen Lentle OBE is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. With a 35 year legal career, Helen was, until retirement in 2023, Director of Legal Services at the Welsh Government, a member of the Executive Committee and Civil Service Board and formerly held the role of Diversity Champion for the Office of the First Minister. She is an Independent member (legal) of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, legal/public sector consultant, coach and trustee of a dyslexia charity in Wales. From a mining family, Helen grew up and still lives in the Welsh coalfield, seeing first-hand the impact on local communities. She is committed to equality in all forms and passionate about making a difference to former coalfields.

Michael Macdonald has been a Trustee since 2020. Having lived in the Yorkshire Coalfield for 32 years, Michael is passionate about re-skilling displaced energy workers and bringing opportunities to former coalfields. He is active in several community groups and is also a Trustee of the Diocese of Sheffield Board of Finance. Michael is an officer for the trade union Prospect, with responsibility for members employed in mining, and is responsible for negotiations with energy companies.

Appointed as a trustee in 2023, Richard is also a member of the Finance and General-Purpose Committee. Born and still living in Sheffield, Richard is a Chartered Surveyor with over 35 years experience in the Real Estate industry in the UK and overseas. Richard is currently Head of Retail Operations at British Land PLC where he oversees the delivery of services to a UK wide property portfolio. Richard brings a wealth of property experience to CISWO and is passionate about supporting land management and the delivery of services to mining communities.

David joined the Board of Trustees in September 2021 and since then, has taken on the role of Chair of the Quality and Impact Committee. Having previously worked in financial, retail, telecoms, and recruitment sectors, David brings a range of skills to the Board including strategy development, change leadership, people development and leading of customer excellence. With a particular interest in the ‘Not for Profit’ sector, David has lived in Yorkshire for 25 years and has seen the impact of the coal industry over this time. He now wishes to contribute to CISWO’s service offer to benefit people who have been and continue to be, impacted by the mining legacy.