A Pembrokeshire-based community farm supporting veterans, has been awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award 2026 for its commitment to the Armed Forces community.

Redberth Croft CIC has been awarded the prestigious ERS Silver Award 2026, recognising its continued commitment to supporting veterans, service leavers, reservists and military families.

The award marks another significant milestone for the CIC, which signed the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Bronze Award status in 2025 before progressing to Silver just one year later.

Redberth Croft CIC is among only 20 organisations across Wales to receive the award this year.

Military veteran Daisy Coleman, who was last year recognised as ‘Role Model of the Year’ at Wales’ Veteran Awards, has built the organisation around the lived experience of its directors, volunteers and members.

Redberth Croft CIC was established to create opportunities for people who are too often defined by their challenges rather than recognised for their strengths.

Since formally registering as a Community Interest Company in 2024, the organisation has grown from a small grassroots initiative into a thriving volunteer-led community farm with more than 30 active volunteers. Many individuals who first joined as participants have progressed into leadership positions, becoming project leads, mentors and managers in their own right.

The organisation supports veterans alongside adults with additional learning needs, unpaid carers, neurodivergent individuals and people experiencing poor mental health, social isolation or other barriers to participation.

Rather than focusing on disadvantage, Redberth Croft CIC focuses on ability, aspiration and potential.

Through a strengths-based approach, volunteers and participants are encouraged to develop confidence, skills and purpose through meaningful community projects, including:

· A community carpentry workshop

· An accessible market garden

· A developing community orchard

· Traditional hedgerow restoration projects

· Conservation and biodiversity initiatives

· Animal-assisted wellbeing activities

· A specialist equine and animal sanctuary supporting vulnerable animals that are often unsuitable for traditional rescue and rehoming models

Unlike many rescue organisations, Redberth Croft is not driven by rehoming targets, enabling it to provide long-term sanctuary and rehabilitation for animals with complex behavioural, welfare or medical needs. The organisation has also recently completed the development of a new equine centre, creating opportunities to further develop equine-assisted wellbeing activities in the future.

Founder and Director Daisy said: "Receiving the ERS Silver Award is an incredible honour and recognition of the values that sit at the heart of everything we do.

“As a veteran-led organisation, we understand first-hand what many members of the Armed Forces community face when transitioning into civilian life. However, we also recognise the immense skills, resilience, leadership and lived experience they bring.

“At Redberth Croft we don't see people as disadvantaged. We see potential. Whether someone is a veteran, has a perceived disability, experiences mental health injury, is neurodivergent or simply lacks confidence, our role is to help them rediscover their strengths and create opportunities where they can thrive.

“Many of our volunteers have gone on to become project leaders, managers and mentors. Seeing people grow in confidence, find purpose and support others in turn is one of our greatest achievements."

Alongside her role as Founder of Redberth Croft CIC, Daisy Coleman works nationally with Mission Community, delivering programmes on behalf of the Office for Veterans' Affairs through the Veterans Industry Engagement Programme (VIEP), helping connect the Armed Forces community with opportunities across key sectors of the UK economy at the strategic and industry level helping pave the way for beneficiary facing armed forces organisations and charities to continue the great work they do.

The Silver Award reflects Redberth Croft CIC's commitment not only to supporting veterans directly, but also to championing the wider Armed Forces community while creating an inclusive environment where everyone is valued for their abilities rather than defined by their circumstances.

As the organisation approaches its second anniversary, the award represents another important milestone in its journey to build a community where people and animals alike can find safety, purpose, belonging and opportunity.