The Queen visits Swindon domestic violence refuge
Every year Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service supports around 62 families, including 78 children
The Queen has toured a domestic violence refuge in Swindon to celebrate the service's 50th anniversary.
Camilla met staff, volunteers and families at Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service (SDASS) today (Monday 22 January).
SDASS, which was founded in 1974 as Swindon Women's Aid, offers one of the few purpose-built refuges in the UK offering fully self-contained accommodation.
The Queen was set to visit one of the flats and meet current residents and their children, before joining staff, partner agencies, residents and trustees at a short reception to unveil a plaque.
The refuge can host 22 families at a time, with 20 flats that have between one and three bedrooms, as well as an emergency bedsit.
Women and children up to the age of 18 are offered a safe place to live at SDASS and tend to stay for around four months.
Every year it supports around 62 families, including 78 children.
As the Duchess of Cornwall after the first national lockdown, she became patron of the UK charity SaveLives, and highlighted its Reach In campaign which encouraged communities to "reach in" to victims of abuse.
She has also visited Refuge, hosting a reception at Clarence House to mark Refuge's 50th anniversary, and Women's Aid.