Swindon Town fans have gave children in Swindon’s domestic abuse refuge plenty to do over the Easter holidays.

Town fans donated over £1,600 towards putting on Easter activities for the 26 children, aged from babes-in-arms to teenagers, who are currently living in the Jenni’s House refuge.

The club invited staff and volunteers from Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service (SDASS) to attend home matches to raise money, and have thanked the fans for their generosity.

Jo Eamey, CEO of SDASS, explained: “The team works hard to make our families feel immediately welcome and at home here, and these donations mean that we can put on more for the families and make their time at the refuge something that they will look back on as a positive time.

“Making life as ‘normal’ as possible is vitally important for the families who live in the refuge. 

“With the Easter holidays coming up, and so many of the children being off school, we aim to put on as many activities as possible to help them feel settled and at home here, and to make new, happy memories together.

The dedicated team at Jenni’s House held Easter craft workshops and other fun activities, including making baskets, an egg hunt and tombola, and making and sharing a picnic together. 

They also put on a special trip to a local activity centre for the children and their mums, which everyone was ‘very much looking forward to’.

On January 22, Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service (SDASS) welcomed Queen Camilla on a visit to the town’s refuge, Jenni’s House where she hailed the charity as “something very special”.

Jenni’s House is one of the first purpose-built refuges in the UK and provides a safe home for up to 22 women and their children who are fleeing domestic abuse.

The Queen was invited to visit the flat of resident Jennifer, who has been living at Jenni’s House for six months with her daughter. 

Speaking about the visit, Jennifer said: “It felt very normal to have the Queen visit the flat, she was very friendly and down to earth. 

“She was really interested in my daughter and was very natural with her. 

“She said some very nice things about the flat and I don’t think she expected it to be as big as it is, or to even have a kitchen.”