Getting younger people into caving is essential for the continuity of our sport, as well as to promote an appetite for the outdoors and a healthy lifestyle.
The underground world of caves and abandoned mines, gives access to truly exciting, fun and memorable environments. For many, once they have had their initial taste of a journey underground, they become inspired and it leads to regular participation of the sport.
It’s not all about the horror stories you might hear of really tight spaces, crawling in water, coldness and rescues, caving even just within the UK can offer a vast range of environments, including those much more conventionally enjoyable.
The BCA are passionate in engaging and promoting opportunities for young people to become involved with cave and mine exploration, and the Youth & Development working group take the lead on this.
Some avenues which exist for getting into caving are shown below, and further information is available at the New To Caving website.
- Student Caving Clubs
- The Scout Association and other youth groups
- Conventional caving clubs
- Participation in clubs with parents/guardians
- Commercially instructed/led caving events
See below for a range of articles produced by the Youth and Development working group.
Reporting from Congress
Earlier this year the BCA granted two groups of keen young people some funds to go to the International Congress of Speleology in France. Both these groups have provided their accounts of the week, describing how such a small provision from the BCA has managed to benefit their clubs and...BCA Young people grants for ICS
Thanks to the work of Linda Wilson and Howard Jones in conjunction with the Youth and Development team, the British Caving Association are happy to announce the availability of a new grant for groups of young people to attend the 2022 International Congress of Speleology. Two grants of £500 are...
GPF Ian Timney Award
Ian Timney was a keen caver and member of the Wessex Cave Club, with whom he did a number of sporting caving trips abroad including the Gouffre Berger. Following his untimely early demise his caving friends held fund arising events in 2021 and then donated £1,500 to the Ghar Parau Foundation...
New to Caving?
So you’re New to Caving? Congratulations! Your spirit of adventure is strong and you can look forward to your first adventures underground… If you’re interested in Caving, and would like to learn more or give it a try, then why not check out NewToCaving.com? New to caving? The BCA runs...