As part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, the Fermanagh Trust is recognising 30 outstanding individuals who have gone above and beyond for their communities with the Fermanagh Trust Civic Honour Awards. Each awardee receives a £1,000 bursary for the organisation they volunteer with. A way to both celebrate their service and invest in the future. These awards shine a spotlight on the people who quietly, consistently make Fermanagh a better place to live.
Among the first to be honoured is Carole Graham, a powerhouse of positivity and planning, whose name is synonymous with Girlguiding in Tempo and far beyond. With a guiding journey that spans more than 45 years, Carole’s story is one of unwavering commitment, community spirit, and sheer love for what she does.
Civic Honour recipient Carole Graham
Carole grew up in the Fermanagh village of Tempo. It’s her home, her community, and the place she has poured her heart into for decades. But Carole’s reach and impact have gone much further.
While she has held senior roles in Girlguiding at District, County, Ulster, and national levels, she’s never lost sight of her roots. Tempo Guides was, and still is, her priority. Whether she’s chairing a planning meeting, pitching a tent in a rainy field, or applying for a grant to buy craft supplies, Carole brings the same meticulous, enthusiastic energy to everything she does.
Her legendary organisational skills mean that no meeting, no camp, no celebration is ever left to chance. Games, crafts, new skills, everything is planned to perfection. “She’s totally dependable,” says one fellow leader. “And her passion for Guiding just shines through.”
One of the hallmarks of Carole’s leadership is her generosity with her skills. “I’ve learned so much from her,” says a colleague. “She taught me how to manage finances for our unit and how to apply for grant aid to benefit the girls. She always shares her knowledge.”
Carole Graham showing her Girl Guiding Badges to Sonya Johnston, Deputy Director of Fermanagh Trust
That willingness to empower others was especially evident in 2010, when Carole helped lead Fermanagh’s celebrations of 100 years of Girlguiding. As the County’s Centenary Champion, she didn’t just rise to the occasion, she redefined it. 200 Brownies dressed as pirates taking over Devenish Island on Lough Erne, ferried across the water, many for the first time in a boat. It was a day few will forget.
Carole introduced Task and Finish Groups, small teams responsible for individual events. The structure worked so well that it’s still used today for large-scale planning. She has used her annual leave to bring girls to week-long camps in Wales, Scotland, and across Northern Ireland. These aren’t just holidays, they’re life-shaping experiences, building confidence, independence, and lifelong friendships.
Her impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Carole has received The Silver Fish, the highest award in Girlguiding, as well as an MBE for her services to the community. These honours reflect a lifetime of dedication, but Carole would be the first to say she does it for the joy of seeing girls grow in confidence, learn new skills, and take on the world.
Carole’s talents don’t stop with Girlguiding. She’s a key member of several local groups, including Tempo Development Association, Tempo Parish Church Select Vestry, the Stone Circle Seniors Group, and she serves on the Board of Governors at Enniskillen Royal Grammar School. She brings the same care and attention to all her roles – listening, planning, solving problems, and helping others shine.
Carole Graham’s Civic Honour Award is a celebration not just of one woman’s incredible commitment, but of the wider spirit of volunteering that powers Fermanagh. Her story is a reminder that community isn’t something that just happens, It’s something people build, week by week, year by year.
For Carole, volunteering wasn’t a single decision, it was something that “just evolved.” Starting as a young girl in Guides, then moving through various roles, her journey has been long, committed, and full of purpose. And while she’s proud of the recent award she’s received, she is quick to point out:
“It’s recognition, really, of the support that I have had as well. There’s no one person does any of this… you’ve always got a team to help out”.
That sense of team has kept things going, even during tough times. Reflecting on the difficulties many voluntary organisations faced, Carole shares:
“COVID certainly was different. We struggled in getting units up and going again because volunteers suddenly thought, ‘I like being in the house on a Thursday evening. I don’t want to be going out anymore.’ And I think a lot of organisations struggled after COVID.”
Despite those challenges, Carole and her team kept the spirit alive. Today, that resilience has paid off, not just in rebuilding numbers but in strengthening community ties:
“Now we are much more cross-community. In those days, it definitely would have been very church orientated… but now through the community playgroup in Tempo, the girls are seeing each other and playing and it’s just a natural progression.”
With nearly 60 girls across Rainbows, Brownies, and Guides, it’s a weekly hive of energy, crafts, songs, and laughter. And it has wider ripple effects too: “A lot of the parents are chatting and communicating through even the playgroup. It’s good for the community. The girls know each other, they come here, they camp together. It’s lovely.”
Carole acknowledges that modern life makes volunteering harder, but encourages others to give it a try: “Even if it’s only an hour a month… give it a go, see how it fits in. And sometimes the more you do, the more you find half-hours in the day. You realise you have more time than you think.”
She speaks warmly about the camaraderie that builds between volunteers: “We stand there and butter the scones in the kitchen and we’ve great craic. And then we might say, what about just going out for a wee dinner? There’s a great social aspect to volunteering.”
Despite everything she gives, Carole insists her motivation is simple: “The village. Really. I think it’s good to just put something back into the community.”
And even as she jokes about always turning up with a “hessian bag” full of supplies, she dreams of one day showing up with just a handbag. A small symbol of a job well done.
As the Fermanagh Trust celebrates three decades of making a difference, Carole’s journey shows us exactly what that looks like on the ground: kindness, consistency, creativity, and community.
“We wanted to mark our 30th year by celebrating the people who reflect the very best of Fermanagh,” says Lauri McCusker, Director of the Fermanagh Trust. “Carole is the perfect example of someone who has given so much, for so long, and inspired countless others along the way.”
Do you know someone like Carole? Someone who’s been the quiet driving force behind community events, youth work, or volunteering? Someone who inspires others and makes a lasting difference?
Nominate them for a Fermanagh Trust Civic Honour Award. There’s no deadline, and nominations will be accepted throughout 2025.
CLICK HERE or email sonya@fermanaghtrust.org to find out more.