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 £143,950 to 218 expeditions travelling to 49 different countries.

We are also particularly keen to encourage young cavers into expedition caving. Over the last 17 years, the GPF has additionally awarded 107 individual grants to cavers going on their first foreign expedition.

Photo: Alum Pot, Yorkshire Dales, UK (Mark Burkey)

Christine In Sump 1 With Suex Scooter (© Richard Walker)

Izvor Licanke 2019

Posted on By Henry Patton

The objective was to explore virgin cave passages both underwater and above, using advanced cave diving and caving techniques. The expedition had three exploratory dives, with 601 m of new cave passages discovered. The total length of the cave is now 1.5 km, of which 1,125 m has been discovered by this team.

Read more on Izvor Licanke | Photo: Christine in sump 1 (© Richard Walker)

Judith Calford, Cave Of The Winds, Mulu, Malaysia (© Chris Howes)

Mulu 19

Posted on By Henry Patton

The expedition has proven that Clearwater Cave is connected to the Racer/Easter system through a sump, although it was not dived. Fifteen cavers were involved over three weeks, with 3.2 km of new passage discovered. In addition to exploration, microbiology fieldwork was conducted examining interesting and rare phenomena.

Read the report | Photo: Cave of the Winds, Mulu, Malaysia (© Chris Howes)

Red 30 600 450 80 C (1)

£1,580 rasised at HE

Posted on By Henry Patton

The Scurion Raffle at Hidden Earth, won by Phil Hawcroft, raised a total of £1,229 in aid of the GPF! Thanks go to Maxine Bateman and Meg Gorry for their relentless selling tactics. A further £351 was raised by the silent auctioning of the silver Caver’s Cup, crafted and generously donated by Sam Drake.

A big thanks from the GPF to Sam, Rolf, Ceris, and everyone who bought tickets. … Continue Reading >£1,580 rasised at HE

Silent Auction at HE

Posted on By Henry Patton

Samantha Drake has spent a long time making a Silver Cavers Cup, which she has generously donated to the GPF. It is a fantastic, hallmarked one-off piece. The cup will displayed at Hidden Earth 2019 in the Art Salon and be sold by Silent Auction, subject to a reserve price. We hope people will like the cup and support GPF by bidding for this fantastic, one-off piece of caving artwork. Tickets and more pics.

… Continue Reading >Silent Auction at HE

£1,050 raised at HE

Posted on By Henry Patton

2018: The Scurion Raffle at Hidden Earth in aid of the GPF raised a total of £826, mainly thanks to the hard work of Ruth Allen, Meg Gorry and Emma Battensby. The Scurion lamp was won by Paul Gladman.
A further £224 was raised by Sam Drake who sold a number of knitted bats as part of her exhibition in the Art Salon. A big thanks extends to them and everyone for supporting the GPF.

… Continue Reading >£1,050 raised at HE