A week at work with… Tori Lewis
Meet Tori: a member of the Norfolk Community Foundation team working tirelessly to build healthier communities through food
Victoria Lewis, or “Tori” as she’s known among the team, plays a pivotal role in tackling food insecurity in Norfolk through her work as Food Strategy Development Manager for Nourishing Norfolk. Her week is filled with conversations and visits with partners who together are delivering on-the-ground support for food hubs and looking to the future strategic picture for food security here in Norfolk. Here’s a closer look at a week in her life:
Monday: Laying the Foundation and Planning for Christmas
Tori starts her week at Norse Group on Fifers Lane with a call to the University of East Anglia (UEA), discussing their evaluation of the Nourishing Norfolk programme. Norse Group generously loans space for the Nourishing Norfolk central distribution hub, providing a home for a food warehouse but also office space for Tori and our colleague Brian.
She then heads into a Nourishing Norfolk Network meeting to discuss Christmas and to hear about opportunities introduced by our colleague Billie. This month it’s a fantastic offer of free volunteer training from St Giles Trust, and a scheme called ‘Talking About Cancer Together’ offered by Community Action Norfolk (CAN) and Macmillan Cancer Support.
With the Christmas period fast approaching, deliveries are already on Tori’s radar. Her afternoon includes a sit down the local Booker and Makro team who are helping ensure a steady supply of food for the festive season. With an eye always on reliability of supply, the Booker team are vital in helping Tori secure food consistently and with bulk-buy benefits for the network.
Tuesday: Building Community Connections
Today is all about connecting with people making Nourishing Norfolk’s mission possible right now and for the long term. Tori meets with Bethany from Soul Church, who will all be assisting Brian at the warehouse ahead of the busy Christmas period, as well as volunteers from Norse’s transport team. Volunteering as part of the Good for Good Skills Exchange through their business is a great way for Norse’s employees to connect with causes that matter.
Then over to Bressingham in South Norfolk to meet Olivia Shave from EcoEwe, a sheep farmer and advocate for sustainable food systems. Together, they explore opportunities for partnering with Norfolk farmers and growers to increase quality local food available to the network. Nourishing Norfolk is about more than helping people afford healthier food: it is about connecting people with food in different ways to build community health and wellbeing.
In the afternoon, Tori visits Hey Girls, a community-interest company (CIC) dedicated to providing free period products across Norfolk, with our colleague Corrie. This collaboration has blossomed over the past year, and the pair are excited to see it continue. The products, including popular reusable options, have been enthusiastically embraced by food hub members. The shared commitment to supporting women and girls through accessible products makes this partnership a natural fit.
Wednesday: Supporting Local, Thinking Beyond Food
Tori receives a warm welcome from the team at Raynham Estate, and collects a fantastic donation of Aberdeen Angus beef burgers produced on the Estate. Raynham’s commitment to locally sourced and ethically raised food aligns perfectly with the Nourishing Norfolk mission, and she’s delighted to bring these high-quality products to local communities. Tori was particularly impressed with the passion showed by Jo and Alice.
Alice from the Rayham Estate said: “Our motivation is simple: to make a difference in our community. By donating Raynham beef burgers, we’re sharing a piece of what we’re passionate about-quality food and caring for others.”
Afterwards, she visits the Coastal Community Supermarket in Wells-Next-the-Sea, discussing supply challenges and how the distribution hub’s product range can adapt. For Tori, these conversations are vital to ensure that Nourishing Norfolk continues to deliver the food communities need and which opens pathways to so much more support and opportunities.
Thursday: Transporting Donations and Long-Term Planning
Thursday sees Tori meeting Brian at Apex Van Rental, a partner that assists with low-cost transportation for Nourishing Norfolk through the Good for Good initiative. Brian sets off to collect several substantial donations: half a ton of onions from Cheveley Park Farm and goods from Mr Organic at Cool Stak in West Winch.
Tori then heads to the main office to catch up with the team, reflecting on a mental health first aid training she completed last week. As she looks ahead to 2025, discussions focus on how Nourishing Norfolk’s work will contribute to the wider food landscape in Norfolk. From celebrating the contributions of local growers to strategising around Good for Good members like N-able, Tori and the team are eager to keep evolving and growing the programme.
A welcome surprise arrives in the form of a substantial donation from the Country Food Trust, and Tori steps in to coordinate the network’s response to receiving another half ton donation from Norfolk’s fantastic food producers, helping reduce waste while providing valuable, nutritious food to those that need it most.
Friday: The Work Continues
As a part-time member of staff, Friday is Tori’s day working elsewhere, but the work she began continues in her absence. The donations collected by Brian are distributed off around the county, the hubs plan their collection of The Country Food Trust’s donation and orders flow in for next week… and so the food cycle rolls on!
Throughout the week, Tori’s role as a Food Strategy Development Manager requires her to be a collaborator and strategic thinker, to be flexible and creative. From fostering partnerships to coordinating with local farmers and suppliers, her work is essential to bringing affordable, high-quality food to Norfolk’s communities. Tori’s week is a testament to how much can be achieved when people work together to tackle food insecurity and build a healthier, more resilient Norfolk.
