FAMILIES who have survived domestic abuse are being given the opportunity to rebuild their bond in a newly launched holiday home.

Swindon Sisters Alliance, a charity shop in The Parade, which was opened before Christmas, is offering holidays in Brean, Somerset, to 23 families.

Emma King opened the shop after her sister Julie died at the hands of her estranged husband Richard Butcher who strangled her at their Chiseldon home in 2005.

He was given a life sentence in 2006 with 13 years and 197 days in jail for her murder. He was allowed out on licence in October last year following a parole board decision.

Emma fought successfully for him to be banned from Swindon, and now she is concentrating on helping other survivors of domestic abuse.

She told the Adver: “We’re hoping to give away the holidays to these families at the very end of June. My husband and I self-funded the home, but the community has also helped us. The people of Swindon have helped to make sure that this could happen.

“We wanted to do it independently because most family holiday homes are very expensive, especially in the summer, and it’s heartbreaking when you want to help people, but it’s too much.

"That’s why we decided to buy the home and make it affordable.

“I picked Brean because that’s where I went with my family as children. A lot of Swindon people go there because it’s close, and there’s a lot to do there.”

Emma and husband Lee named the home Julie’s Haven in memory of her sister.

Domestic violence survivors will be chosen with the help of several domestic abuse organisations in the town. And if it works out the couple hope to offer the opportunity to more families next year.

Emma said: “We want to help create and develop strong bonds between families that have gone through this.

"When someone goes through domestic abuse they can lose contact with their families, and to escape they often travel across the country and change their name.

"This means that they have been separated and can’t spend a lot of quality time together, and I want to help with that.

“It’s also really important to make memories with their family and to promote wellbeing in a healthy lifestyle.

She added: “When you’re going through so much, it helps to have this time away to feel better and be with those people you love and to unwind.”

Visit SwindonSistersAlliance on Facebook to find out more about the scheme and the charity.