National Caving Association

THE NATIONAL CAVING ASSOCIATION was constituted in 1969 as a confederation of four existing Regional Councils of Caving Clubs, together with other established organisations accepted as responsible nationally for a particular aspect of caving. In 1994, it was reconstituted into a federation of Regional Caving Councils, National Bodies with specialist interests and Caving Clubs, each of which have autonomy in their own fields. The Sports Council recognises NCA as the National Governing Body for Caving and gives grant-aid to some of NCA's Programmes.

THE REGIONAL CAVING COUNCILS cover five loosely-defined regions which together cover the whole of England and Wales; each includes at least one major caving area plus important conurbations. Membership of a Regional Caving Council is open to Caving Clubs which are based in and/or are active in that region. Caving clubs may be members of one or more Regional Caving Councils and/or other organisations. There is no Scottish Council of Caving, but some Scottish caving clubs are members of the Council of Northern Caving Clubs. The Speleological Union of Ireland is not part of NCA.

Only the Derbyshire Caving Association and the Devon & Cornwall Underground Council have both individual and group membership. However, all the following National Constituent Bodies have such membership.

THE BRITISH CAVE RESCUE COUNCIL was formed in 1967 to provide liaison for the independent Cave Rescue Organisations and to liase with the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Mountain Rescue Council. Each Cave Rescue Organisation is responsible for its own area organisation, and draws its Rescue Teams from cavers active in the area; operates its own system; arranges its own finances; and elects its own officers. The British Cave Rescue Council is responsible for the initial organisation of a Cave Rescue Service in new areas.

THE BRITISH CAVE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION was formed in 1973 by a merger of the British Speleological Association and the Cave Research Group. Its primary object is to encourage all aspects of research in caves and karst areas, to further the development of caving equipment and technology and to publish the results of such work. Members (individuals and clubs) receive two publications free of charge quarterly - Cave and Karst Science (olim Transactions) and Caves and Caving (olim Bulletin).

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MINING HISTORY ORGANISATIONS (NAMHO) was formed in 1979 and represents organisations such as mining history societies and mining museums which are concerned with the exploration of, research in and preservation of abandoned mines in the UK. Full or Associate Membership is available to interested organisations.

THE WILLIAM PENGELLY CAVE STUDIES TRUST LTD is the only body concerned with scientific cave study whose role is essentially devoted to education and conservation, rather than research. It was instrumental in the creation of a National Cave Conservation Group. It has established a Cave Studies Center and Museum of Cave Sciences at Buckfastleigh for the purposes of informing cavers, students and the general public of the need for conservation in this field. Its interests cover cave palaeontology, archaeology, biology, mineralogy and geology.

CAVING developed as a club activity on a largely independent basis in the five main regions where limestone exists to sufficient depth for caves to occur on an appreciable scale. There was little communication between clubs before the 1960's, when the first Regional Caving Councils evolved, primarily to deal with growing access problems. The differences in character of caves from region to region and the methods which have evolved for exploring them contribute to the diversity of caving in Britain today. In all these areas, caving has grown rapidly during the past 30 years, with increasing club membership and formation of new clubs.

The Association grew from annual meetings of delegates of the Regional Caving Councils, with the subsequent inclusion of national bodies representing specific facets of caving. Caves are finite and irreplaceable natural features; thus the Association believes that development of the sport must concentrate on improvement of standards, of facilities, and on continuing exploration with emphasis on the scientific importance and conservation of caves.

The Association maintains four Special Committees, each of which includes representation of the Constituent Bodies, responsible for:- Conservation and Access; Training; Equipment and Techniques; and Legal and Insurance. It also establishes Working Parties as required to deal with particular subjects. The Training Committee has developed and administers the Association's nationally-recognised leadership schemes, the Cave Instructor's Certificate and the Local Cave/Mine Leadership Assessment. These ensure standards of those responsible for training and for formal leadership of groups such as School and Outdoor Center parties.

The officers are Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. In addition, the Conservation Officer, Training Officer,. Equipment Officer and Legal & Insurance Officer convene their respective Special Committees. The National Council of the Association is formed of the Officers of the Association, Convenors of Special Committees and representatives of the Constituent Bodies and clubs. NCA also appoints an Editor to produce the bi-monthly caving publication SPELEOScene and an international representative who serves on the European and International Speleological Union (UIS) committees. It also engages the services of a Training Co-ordinator to administer the Association's Training Programme. A computer-based National Cave, Karst & Mine Register is being developed along with an associated GIS.

Cavers proposing to explore overseas may apply for expedition grant aid funded annually by the Ghar Parau Foundation. Periodically advertisements in the caving press give details.

Postal accommodation address: c/o Monomark House, 27, Old Gloucester St., London WC1 N 3XX.

Email: nca@nca.org.uk

April 1996

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