As part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, the Fermanagh Trust is honouring 30 remarkable individuals whose commitment to their communities has made a lasting difference. Each awardee receives a £1,000 bursary to benefit the organisation or cause they’re involved with. A gift that celebrates their service while investing in the future. Categories for the Civic Honour Awards include: Inspirational Young Person – for those under 30 making a standout impact, and Community Impact & Legacy – for those with 30+ years of service volunteering in their community.
22-year-old Bethany Fleming is being recognised in the Inspirational Young Person category for her powerful advocacy on housing rights and tireless efforts to improve opportunities for young people in Fermanagh. Her journey began in the most challenging of circumstances. Leaving school with little qualifications and soon after, facing homelessness.
Fermanagh Civic Honour recipient Bethany Fleming
“After a family breakdown, I moved into Rossorry Grove,” Bethany explains. “In 2022 we got the news it was closing because there was no funding. I remember thinking, ‘I live here. I want people in the future to get the same support it’s given me. I’m going to fight for it.’ I went to the local papers, wrote to MLAs, and kept pushing the story out there.”
That determination saw her take on a high-profile campaign to keep Action for Children’s Rossorry Grove Sheltered Housing Accommodation open. As part of Homelessness Awareness Week, she created a 3D model of Rossorry Grove, with each window revealing statistics and information about the service and the people it helps. “We took it around to different venues to showcase it. Not long after, we got the funding back,” she says. “I wanted that support to always be there for young people. Rossorry should really get this award, not me.”
From that moment, Bethany caught what she calls “the volunteering bug”. She began supporting Rossorry events and wider Action for Children campaigns, spoke at the One World Summit in Belfast, and took part in the Sleep Out event at Stormont, sharing her personal housing experiences. She is now also active with the organisation Youth Action and continues to raise awareness of hidden homelessness. “One of the hardest things has been getting people to understand the story of Rossorry Grove,” Bethany reflects. “Homelessness can be invisible. I know loads of people sofa surfing. People often think it’s just someone in a tent on the street but it’s not always like that. The biggest demographic I’ve seen affected is young people.”
Her advocacy has reached the highest levels, including meeting politicians, councillors, and even Baroness Anderson, spokesperson for the NI Office in the House of Lords, where Bethany spoke passionately about the urgent need for affordable housing for young people and young families. “I’ve been in that situation, so I know what it’s like,” she says. “I want to make the journey easier for others. Even if I can do something small, maybe the next person can build on it until real change happens.”
Alongside her activism, Bethany has her sights set firmly on a future in youth work. “I’ve got the spark for youth work. That’s what I want to do with my life. I’m passionate about getting young people out into nature, giving them independence, and making sure they have opportunities they might not otherwise get,” she says. She also wants more young people to have their voices heard: “Young people can speak up to authorities, but it’s not advertised well enough or targeted at young people. The opportunities are there but a lot of us don’t know about them.”
Bethany moved out of Rossorry Grove two years ago and now has her own place but remains deeply connected to the work she began there. Her commitment was recognised nationally in 2023 when she received the Young Shining Star award at Action for Children’s Stephenson Awards. But for her, this latest accolade from Fermanagh Trust holds a special place. “The award I got in London was lovely, but I prefer this one because it’s local. My main priority is Northern Ireland, especially the West.”
Through resilience, advocacy, and unwavering drive, Bethany has transformed her own life and is determined to help transform the lives of others.
Please be advised that applications for the Fermanagh Civic Honour Awards are now closed. All 30 recipients have been selected.