The Ghar Parau Foundation
A 100% voluntary-based charity providing grant-aid assistance for British caving expeditions to all corners of the world.
Photo: Sunbeams in Doline 1 Hang Son Doong, Vietnam. (Ryan Deboodt)
A 100% voluntary-based charity providing grant-aid assistance for British caving expeditions to all corners of the world.
Photo: Sunbeams in Doline 1 Hang Son Doong, Vietnam. (Ryan Deboodt)
The Ghar Parau Foundation is a 100% voluntary-based charity. Through the management of an investment fund, the GPF provides grant aid to British caving expeditions, in particular those that include an element of innovative exploration or scientific study.
Since 2007, the GPF has awarded £143,750 to 217 expeditions travelling to 48 different countries.
We are also particularly keen to encourage young cavers into expedition caving. Over the last 17 years, the GPF has additionally awarded 105 individual grants to cavers going on their first foreign expedition.
Photo: Alum Pot, Yorkshire Dales, UK (Mark Burkey)
Our 50th anniversary expedition didn’t disappoint! A fantastic deep lead produced endless discoveries, including a magnificent 90m+ pitch, with a return to “Christmas Camp” at -400m. Together with a dig breakthrough, big discoveries in nearby Planja Jama, a surprise visit from the British Embassy, and much more – 2024 was one for the history books!
Read the report | Photo: M10 ice cave, Slovenia. (© Ben Richards)
Rebolting and resurveying the 300m shaft Tras La Jayarda led to a new extension. “Try a Little Harder” was pushed down new pitches to within 15m of an inlet in Pozu Jultayu. Meanwhile, establishment of a camp in Pozu Jultayu via Bill’s Cave enabled fixed aids in the main streamway to be replaced and many promising leads to be identified for 2025.
Report | Photo: The 300m shaft of Tras La Jayarda (© Bartek Biela)
From February 11-22, 2024, an international team of cavers visited the Doi Angkhang region. The cavers, from Thailand, UK, USA and Austria, were mainly members of the Shepton Mallet Caving Club (UK) and Progression Group (Thailand). 41 caves were visited, of which 23 were new sites. A total of 2,290 m of cave passage was mapped in 8 caves.
Report | Photo: White Cliff Cave (© Andy Goddard)
Please note the following deadlines for Autumn 2024 applications
Ghar Parau Foundation:
Deadline is 31st August 2024, see website for further details.
Mount Everest Foundation:
Deadline is 30th September 2024, see website for further details.
We had a successful expedition this year. The main focus was on cave diving, which made quite complicated logistics. As per our short report, we achieved most of our objectives and managed to survey in the region of 1.3 km in new passage. Several ongoing leads are left for ongoing expeditions to go at.
Report | Photo: Sump 2 Tham Nam Pu (© Craig Holdstock)
A total of nine caving expeditions were funded by the GPF Committee during the latest round of funding in March 2024, distributing a combined total of £6,900. A further 7 Alex Pitcher awards of £100 each were also granted to young cavers going on their first expedition abroad.
The expeditions submitted this round span many continents, with cavers travelling to Peru, Mongolia, Gabon and several regions across Europe.
Browse the archive map to find out more about the funded expeditions’ objectives
Photo: Optimism is a Strategy Streamway in Tragadero de la Soledad, Peru (© Boaz Langford)
There were three expedition objectives: 1. continuing the scientific programme; 2. laser scanning from Cave of the Winds entrance to Barangs entrance, and 3. exploration incorporating surveying and photography. All three projects were either completed or came close to being completed. The science will be ongoing.
Report and photos | Photo: Even scientists have to cave!! (© Bartek Biela)
A well-planned and executed expedition. The major success was the discovery of the longest section of the main river passage draining the Benarat caves system. All details can be found in the preliminary report.
Summary report | Serendipity Passage, Benarat Caverns System (© Mark Burkey)
ICCC collaborated with the Slovenian club Jamarska Sekcija PD Tolmin once again to make Sistem Migovec, Slovenia’s longest-known cave system, even longer. Members spent a great 5 weeks pushing the main system and novel Planje system which shows promise of connecting in, as well as teaching expo skills to the novices.
Expedition Report | Photo: Entering a dig on the Limestone Pavement (© Yuting Rao)
This year, we mapped >4 km of new cave and disovered 49 new cave entrances. We implemented a new mentorship scheme to help the 23 people who had never been on a caving expedition, and established a new camp on the plateau, which will facilitate cave exploration here for years to come.
Summary report | Photo: Watershed, Heimkommenhöhle (© Harry Kettle)