Mary Vickers: Chaplain, Food Justice Advocate, and Champion for Community Resilience
At the heart of North East Lincolnshire, Mary Vickers has been a constant force for connection—bringing people together to nurture both spirit and sustenance.
As a chaplain supporting individuals across a wide variety of workplaces including E‑Factor and Humberside Airport, and as a passionate advocate for food justice, Mary embodies compassion in action.
Over the course of four years, Mary served as Community Food Coordinator for Sector Support NEL. In that role, she:
Brought together local food providers, encouraging collaboration and shared learning.
Resourced community initiatives and helped build resilience—steering evidence-based change beyond emergency food distribution.
Practically engaged in growing, planting, and harvesting—transforming a disused council carpark into a thriving community garden.
Led cookery projects: from budget-friendly slow‑cooker sessions (complete with recipe packs) to air‑fryer lessons—helping people cook affordably
These grassroots efforts made such an impact that North East Lincolnshire joined the Greater Lincolnshire Food Partnership and won a Sustainable Food Places award
Although Mary has stepped away from her Coordinator role, she continues to contribute voluntarily as a co‑chair of the Northern Lincolnshire chapter of the national Food Partnerships network. Working alongside farmers, public health, food retailers, and food banks, this group:
Champions a fairer, greener, healthier food system across Greater Lincolnshire
Supports urban growing projects, community farms, school gardens, street‑planter planting and care farms
Provides easy access to information on food banks, community cafés, low‑cost groceries, and growing support
Mary’s collaborative approach—uniting public, private, and voluntary sectors—is exactly the kind of catalytic, systems‑level change the Partnership aims to create
Since January 2011, Mary has offered chaplaincy at Humberside International Airport and services at E‑Factor, supporting staff and clients of any faith (or none).
She brings:
A confidential, non‑judgmental presence in times of stress or change.
Pastoral care where it’s needed—on‑site, virtually, or project‑based.
Signposting to local networks and supportive referrals.
Mary understands that food, wellbeing, and emotional support often go hand‑in‑hand.
The Northern Lincolnshire Food Partnership is a cross-sector network with a growing number of partners since its inception last year—from farmers and schools to food banks and businesses—working together for equitable, sustainable food for all.
Their work includes:
Mapping and signposting local food support.
Linking groups to growing and cooking events.
Creating networks, and hopefully a food hub, to build fair supply chains
Connecting with local government and local businesses
Promoting climate initiatives, including offering carbon Literacy Training to SMEs
Mary’s hands‑on, relationship‑driven leadership is integral to this ecosystem of change.
Mary is also a Director of 'Grounded in Grimsby CIC' which manages the community garden in Garibaldi St carpark. This provides space for community groups to grow fruit and veg, learn how to cook with the produce, thus providing opportunity to develop skills, enhance mental wellbeing, and combat isolation.
In a time when food insecurity and emotional distress often go hand in hand, Mary Vickers offers a model worth celebrating. She weaves spiritual care, sustainable food access, and community empowerment into a tapestry of hope. Her work isn’t just about providing meals—it’s about restoring agency, community bonds, and personal dignity.
By spotlighting leaders like Mary, the Our Future initiative can elevate conversations around community wellbeing, inspire CSR engagement, and honour the quiet leadership that happens every day in North East Lincolnshire.
Connect with Mary and the Lincolnshire Food Partnership at maryv.food@gmail.com or visit her Linkedin Profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/revmaryvickers/
Join food‑growing or cookery projects in Grimsby and beyond.
Partner or donate through local food banks and community gardens.
Reflect this integrated model of pastoral care and food justice in your workplace.