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)

Apply for fundingThe Ghar Parau Foundation

About us

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)

Wessex

Ian Timney Award

Posted on By Henry Patton

Ian Timney was a keen caver and member of the Wessex Cave Club. Following his untimely early demise his caving friends held fundraising events in 2021, and for the next 10 years the GPF will award £150 to the exped we believe will have the most impact on its young participants. For 2022, GPF decided that the CUCC Totesgebirge exped would be the first winner of this award.

Read more on the award

Spring2022

Spring ’22 funded expeds

Posted on By Henry Patton

With covid restrictions continuing to relax, eight applications received GPF grant aid during the latest round of funding. The GPF Committee allocated £7,150 – their largest distribution yet – plus 6 Alex Pitcher awards of £100 each for young cavers going on their first expedition abroad.

Browse the archive map to find out more about the funded expeditions’ objectives.

Newly Discovered Passage (© Robert Eavis)

Mulu Caves 2021

Posted on By Henry Patton

Due to covid, the 2021 expedition was delayed. It therefore took place in November 2022. During this expedition 10.8 km of cave was surveyed in over 42 survey trips, 6.5 km of this was newly discovered cave, and much of this was done using underground camps within the Clearwater system, primarily entrances Snake Track and the main

Read the exped report | Photo: Newly discovered passage (© Robert Eavis)

'bfg9000', Cueva De La Marniosa (© Tom Smith)

Tresviso 2021

Posted on By Henry Patton

This year’s expedition continued cave exploration in the Urdon Gorge (Tresviso, Cantabria). With the coronavirus enforcing a reduction in participants, >2.6 km of new passage was surveyed, with still strong potential for further discoveries to be made.

Expedition report | Photo: Cueva de la Marniosa (© Tom Smith)

Abseiling In Zholap Khun 2 (© Pynshai Syiemiong)

Nagaland Caving Expedition

Posted on By Henry Patton

This represents the first attempt to systematically map Nagaland caves. A total of 33 caves were documented and mapped. None were particularly extensive and consisted of dry, inactive fossil passages. However, the caves were of distinct cultural, archaeological and biological interest.

Read their report | Photo: Zholap Khun 2 (© Pynshai Syiemiong)

2021spring Slider

Spring ’21 funded expeds

Posted on By Henry Patton

Despite covid restrictions continuing to affect the uncertainty of foreign expeditions, five applications received GPF grant aid during the latest round of funding. The GPF Committee allocated £5,650, plus 5 Alex Pitcher awards of £100 each for young cavers going on their first expedition abroad.

Browse the archive map to find out more about the funded expeditions’ objectives.

Christine Grosart At Sump 2 (© Mark Burkey)

Izvor Licanke 2020

Posted on By Henry Patton

A smaller-than-usual team of cavers and divers revisited Izvor Licanke in Croatia to push its current terminus. In its sixth year now, the expedition completed exploration of sump 4, finding passage beyond and a fifth sump. The cave length now extends to >1.6 km.

Report and photos | Photo: Christine Grosart at sump 2 (© Mark Burkey)