Local Cave & Mine Leader Award

The Local Cave and Mine Leader Award (LCMLA) is a regional and site specific award administered by the BCA (British Caving Association) and is designed to give sound, quality training to those working in either a voluntary or professional capacity in the cave or mine environments of the UK.

For all of the Local Cave and Mine Leader Awards there is an assumption of personal experience and competence on the part of the candidate prior to attendance on a training course. For candidates with exceptional levels of personal and leadership experience in caving there is a process whereby the training course can be waived through formal application to the training committee.

The scheme has a number of modules being part of the Level 1 and Level 2 award. For both the level one and level two there is a training course which comprises of a 16 hour course. After training candidates are assessed on a skills day and a group day. Candidates are required to pass the skills day before moving onto the group day. Both the level one and two are site specific awards. After successful completion of the skills day a list of caves the candidate can lead groups in is agreed with the assessor.

Dr Banister Hand Basin
Dr Banister Hand Basin

Local Cave and Mine Leader Prerequisites

prior experience at level one

  • The candidate must have a basic level of competence as a cavers or mine explorers and should have a minimum level of experience extending to 12 cave or mine exploration trips.
  • Those with less than 12 trips experience may be accepted on bespoke courses. This will however be noted on the training report issued at the end of the course and will advise the candidate that more training may be required before assessment.

prior experience at level two

  • Must have completed a Level 1 training course and have some experience of vertical caving either utilising ladders or Single Rope Technique (SRT), where ever possible these courses will be run to ensure that candidates of similar experience and techniques will work together.
  • Candidates may be refused on a training course if insufficient experience has been presented.


Local Cave and Mine Leader Award Level 1

WS Caving Tod Nick Piers Dan 001
WS Caving Tod Nick Piers Dan 001

This award permits the holder to lead caving activity in a list of predominantly simple, horizontal caves or mines that they have chosen and have been assessed as competent to work in. It covers personal and group caving, simple ropework and the cave environment.

LCMLA Level 1 Training

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LCMLA Level 1 Assessment

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Local Cave and Mine Leader Award Level 2

WS Stop Pot - Ease Ghyll System
WS Stop Pot – Ease Ghyll System

This allows the holder to lead caving activity in a list of simple, vertical caves or mines that they have chosen and have been assessed as competent to work in. These caves may involve using ladders and lifelines on straightforward pitches not exceeding 18m. It covers personal and group caving, technical equipment, appropriate rigging and safety and rescue.

LCMLA Level 2 Training

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LCMLA Level 2 Assessment

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All Local Cave and Mine Leader Award candidates, however, must be registered with the scheme prior to attendance on a course and have their logbook available for inspection.
Our LCMLA’s are run through one of the local providers, please get in touch to see when our next course will be running.