What is the Ghar Parau Foundation?

The Ghar Parau Foundation (GPF) is a 100% voluntary-based charity that provides grant aid to British caving expeditions around the world, with particular priority for trips that include innovative exploration or scientific study. It manages an investment fund to finance this support and also runs a separate strand of individual grants aimed at cavers heading on their first foreign expedition. If you are planning a British-led caving expedition with a genuine exploration or research component, the GPF is a relevant funding body to approach; if your trip is purely recreational or not British-linked, it is unlikely to fit.

What the GPF does

The foundation's core activity is distributing grants to caving expeditions. Its stated preference is for expeditions that contain "an element of innovative exploration or scientific study" — meaning new cave discovery, survey work, or research tied to the underground environment, rather than travel alone.

Two distinct funding tracks are described on the site:

• Expedition grants — awarded to British caving expeditions, including those travelling internationally.
• Individual first-expedition grants — smaller awards to cavers going on their first foreign expedition, intended to encourage younger cavers into expedition caving.

Track record in numbers

The site gives cumulative figures that help set expectations about scale:

These totals indicate many modest awards rather than a few large ones — useful context if you are estimating what a typical grant might look like relative to total expedition costs.

Examples of supported work

The foundation's page highlights several current or recent projects, which illustrate the kind of work it backs:

• Tresviso 2026 — an expedition project listed on the site.
• Preservation of ancient Maya caves — a conservation-oriented cave project.
• Mae Hong Son 2026 — an expedition to the Mae Hong Son area.
• Mulu Caves 2025 — work in the Mulu cave system.

The spread across exploration, conservation, and scientific study reflects the foundation's stated priorities.

Who it is for

The GPF is aimed at British caving expeditions and individual British cavers joining a first foreign expedition. The emphasis on encouraging young cavers into expedition caving is explicit, so early-career participants should note the separate individual grant route rather than assuming only team-level funding exists.

Practical points before applying

• Fit matters most. Frame your expedition around exploration or scientific study — that is the stated criterion, not an optional extra.
• Two routes, not one. Check whether you are applying as an expedition or as an individual first-timer; the amounts and purposes differ.
• Volunteer-run. As a 100% voluntary charity, expect correspondence and decisions to be handled by volunteers rather than a staffed office.
• Verify current details on the site. Application windows, forms, and deadlines are not specified in the material available here, so confirm them directly at gharparau.org.uk before planning your submission.