Positive Community Action (PCA) UK: Monthly News Update – March 2026
Welcome to our March update! It’s been a whirlwind of a month here at Positive Community Action (PCA). As we move into the first signs of spring across Wiltshire, we are reflecting on a season of immense growth, new milestones, and the incredible power of local kindness.
This month, we are focusing on the heartbeat of PCA: our people, those joining us, those going above and beyond, and those we are deeply sad to see go.
❤️ A Fond Farewell to Julie and Lyra
It is with heavy hearts but the warmest of wishes that we say goodbye to two pillars of our organisation: Julie and Lyra.
Both Julie and Lyra have made a tremendous impact on PCA and the wider community. Their dedication, hard work, and genuine care for our neighbours have left an indelible mark on everything we do. While we are sad to see them move on to their next chapters, we are so incredibly grateful for the time they gave us.
Julie and Lyra—you will be missed by the team and the community alike. Thank you for everything.
A Warm PCA Welcome & Donor Thanks 🧡
On the other side of the coin, we are absolutely delighted to welcome several new faces to the PCA family this month! A massive thank you to our new volunteers who have stepped up to help in the Community Meals, BURP, and Foodshare teams. Your energy is exactly what we need as we head into a busy spring.
To our donors and sponsors: None of this is possible without you. Your financial support directly translates into the ingredients for our meals, Pantry Packs for those in need and the fuel for our outreach. You are the foundation upon which PCA stands.
⭐ Youth Spotlight: Our DofE Superstars
We want to shine a very special light on two of our youngest volunteers who have been blowing us away in the kitchen. As part of their Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award journey, these two have stepped up to the stove with professional-grade skill and infectious enthusiasm.
Not only are they honing their culinary talents, but they are producing truly amazing, high-quality meals for our community members.
It’s inspiring to see the next generation taking such an active role in community care. Keep up the fantastic work!
🍲 Going Above and Beyond: Crisis Support
A heartfelt thank you goes out to our Community Meals Team. This month, several members went far beyond their standard roles to support a community member facing a significant personal crisis. Their swift, compassionate response ensured this individual felt safe and cared for during an incredibly difficult time. This is “Community Action” in its purest form.
📋 Volunteer Call-Out: Become a BURP Assessor!
We are looking for BURP Assessors to join our team. This role is the “front line” of our support system, helping us ensure that help gets to those who need it most.
- The Role: You will contact applicants to discuss their needs for food support due to financial hardship. This is a compassionate, communication-heavy role.
- Requirements: A calm, non-judgmental phone manner and a DBS check (which PCA will provide and pay for).
If you have a few hours to spare and want to help ensure no one in our community goes hungry during a financial “burp,” please get in touch!
🚍 The Community Bus: Almost Ready for the Road!
The heart of our recent efforts has been the PCA Community Bus. This mobile unit is designed to bridge the gap for our most isolated rural communities, providing a “Friendship Cafe,” a professional kitchen, and a hub for social connection. And taking our Foodshare to a wider community.
- Internal Fit-out Success: We are thrilled to announce that the downstairs area is officially complete. The professional kitchen, serving hatch, and climate-controlled cold store have all passed their gas and electrical safety inspections.
- Upstairs Café & Office: The top deck is now built! We’ve installed the booth tables and café seating, creating a warm, welcoming space for neighbours to gather once we hit the road. Just the wall cladding and some carpentry work to finish.
- We’ve been busy painting the entrance area, and really brightening the area up. The floor is one of the next jobs on the list.
- The Final Push: We are currently in the technical home stretch, securing solar panels to the roof and fixing the diesel water heater to ensure the bus is fully autonomous.
Could you help? We are still looking for specialized tradespeople to help with these final technical touches. If you have the skills or know someone who does, please get in touch with quotes. We need this asap.
Our combined efforts have now saved 54.34 tonnes of food and avoided 137 tonnes of CO2. That is the equivalent of taking 75 average cars off the road for an entire year
Finally, PCA are now on the lookout for land to purchase in the Marlborough and Pewsey area to build a community farm around the bus. We will be working with Wiltshire Council to secure land for our next very exciting adventure.
