Our newest Patron: Anouska Lancaster
Anouska Lancaster is an award-winning interior designer and accomplished entrepreneur who is passionate about fostering creativity and empowering individuals to live their most authentic lives through interior design. With a diverse background in the arts, she’s carved an inspiring path through adversity, marked by innovation and dedication to her passion for interiors.
Anouska’s journey began with a deep-seated love for the arts, studying fine art before transitioning into the world of interiors and entrepreneurship. Her early career saw her designing nightclubs and bars in the west end of London, winning her first award in 2007 for ‘Best London Club’ at the London Bar and Club Awards, and later on, founding a successful design studio that swiftly gained recognition for its boundary-pushing concepts and forward-thinking designs. Her ability to blend artistic vision with strategic business acumen set her apart in the industry.
Anouska’s impact extends beyond business; she’s a vocal advocate for creative arts in education, domestic violence awareness and women empowerment. Anouska fled from a physical and emotionally violent relationship in January 2011 and started her business ‘Noushka Design’ later that year to support herself and her two young children. Anouska went into police protection in 2011 and was supported by Berkshire Women’s Aid. She represented herself in court against her ex-husband who at the time was inflicting a campaign of terror against her, which included stalking, harassment, a car bomb and an aggravated burglary. Anouska’s resilience, strength and determination to succeed was fuelled by her wish for a better life, a life of freedom for her and her children.
Anouska is passionate about campaigning for relationship education in schools and wishes to meet with members of parliament to implement this important subject into the school curriculum. Anouska also wishes to bring hope to women living in violent relationships and survivors of domestic violence. Anouska wishes to shine a light of hope to those who are currently living in darkness.
Anouska’s designs are a celebration of her newfound freedom and her ability to express herself. Her innovative approach to interior design recognises that each individual’s story is totally unique and that should be translated through the décor of their home. Anouska doesn’t believe in one style of interior design, but instead strives to create a space for her clients that reflect their personal style, just as their wardrobe would. A house is only a home if the person living there feels expressed, happy and comfortable.
Anouska would like to break down the stigma that interior design should only be accessible for celebrities and wealthy individuals. She believes that interior design should be available to people from all walks of life and within any budget. Anouska is passionate about upcycling and will often be seen sourcing pieces for her projects in charity shops and flea markets.
Anouska has received recognition for her work in national and international press and all the leading interior design magazines. Titles include The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The Metro, The Sunday Express, Homes and Gardens, Country Homes and Interiors, Good Homes, OK! Magazine, KBB Magazine, to name but a few. Anouska has also written for some of the leading newspapers and magazines, including The Express, Heat magazine, Notebook and S magazine for the Sunday Express.
Anouska’s passion is working in TV. In 2014 Anouska featured on the Alan Titchmarsh show on ITV discussing her passion for upcycling. In 2016, Anouska joined QVC as their resident Interior Designer, sharing her lifestyle tips and showcasing home decor products whilst working for Kelly Hoppen and Amanda Holden.
In 2022, Anouska featured in ‘Renovation Nation’ on channel 4, a series which followed Anouska and her husband Greig on the renovation journey of their forever home in Cornwall. Anouska’s bold and brave designs caught the attention and the imagination of the viewers, which propelled her work into the spotlight, gaining much highly regarded recognition for her work and design ethic. The series went on to win an award in 2023 at the National Television Society Awards. Anouska and Greig have just finished filming series 2 of Renovation Nation, which will go to air on channel 4 in 2024.
Recognised for her boundary breaking design style and achievements, Anouska has been honoured with several awards in Interior Design as well as celebrating her entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to the arts. She continues to speak at various forums and write articles for newspapers and magazines sharing her insights on entrepreneurship, creativity, and the invaluable role of interior design in personal and professional development.
As a thought leader, Anouska constantly seeks new ways to merge business and creativity, believing that the most successful ventures are born from a harmonious blend of innovation and strategy. Her vision and commitment to empowering individuals through creativity make her a driving force in the worlds of both business and the arts.
Anouska said of joining Kaleidoscopic UK:
“I am thrilled and honoured to become a patron of such an amazing survivor-led charity, Kaleidoscopic UK. Having experienced domestic violence throughout my 9 year marriage plus post separation abuse/violence in the 7 years after, I know firsthand the trauma and impacts that domestic violence victims and their families face.
I hope that my story can be a ray of light, hope to anyone who is suffering or looking for light in the darkness. I am excited to unite and look forward to what we can achieve together for prevention and support.”
Danielle Baron
Danielle is an inspirational survivor who builds other women and children to achieve their dreams through the Danielle Baron Organisation, this doesn’t just guarantee that every child and adolescent enjoys a phenomenal education, reaches their peak mental and physical well-being, and explores entrepreneurial avenues, it also fosters empowerment and unwavering self-belief in women. Danielle serves as a trailblazing neurodiversity pre-assessment learning consultant, bridging the gap between educational institutions and parents, and as an author dedicated to uplifting empowerment, education, and well-being through innovative product development.
In addition, she has set up her coaching company ‘UN BS YOURSELF’, which empowers women to break free from limiting beliefs and unleash their boundless potential, Danielle has founded another remarkable entity named DIVEINC. This visionary company specialises in providing diversity, fairness and inclusion advisory services to a wide range of organisations that dip into service businesses , fashion and products, ensuring that inclusivity thrives in every corner of society. The Danielle Baron Organisation is truly a force for transformative change, touching lives and sparking inspiration at every turn.
Danielle is also an ambassador for Jordan’s Retreat and Think Ocean. She is the Director of Education Innovation for Think Ocean and heads up the curriculum.
She has been nominated as a finalist for eight prestigious awards this year, and has been awarded ‘Inspirational Woman of the Year,’ the SME Surrey Gold Award for Innovation, and the prestigious Overall Award for SME Surrey. Winning the 2023 National Business Award due to merging industries for optimum performance.
Danielle shared “For me, being a patron of Kaleidoscopic UK holds immense significance. As a previous assistant headteacher and current educator and advocate for children’s well-being, it pains me to see so many children becoming unwitting victims of domestic abuse within their own ‘homes’. The mere thought of this breaks my heart. Far too often, these young souls live in constant fear, tiptoeing on eggshells. This cycle must come to an end.
Unfortunately, I’ve experienced domestic abuse myself, and I can’t help but ponder whether receiving more comprehensive pre-education, especially regarding the fact that domestic abuse isn’t solely physical, with a particular focus on gaslighting, might have enabled me to exit that situation earlier. This underscores the vital importance of raising awareness for charities like Kaleidoscopic.
I’ve also observed and supported friends experiencing domestic abuse, witnessing the profound psychological toll it takes not only on them but also on those around them. This reinforces the urgency of shedding light on all forms of abuse and importance of organisations dedicated to ending domestic abuse.
I feel Empowerment is the antidote to domestic abuse.”
We are beyond thrilled to welcome Danielle to the team especially during the #16daysofactivism
United we stand, to raise our voices plus awareness and to create much needed change for all those subjected to abuse.
Zoe Dronfield
As the the 16 days of activism ends we are delighted our activism continues.. we are honoured to announce that the inspiration, campaigner and amazing survivor, Zoe Dronfield has today become our newest Patron of Kaleidoscopic UK!!
Zoe through her work and campaigning is creating much needed change as well as support for fellow victim-survivors.
The author of the insightful and inspirational book Mind over Manipulators, an in depth real life experience of abuse and highlights failures in the systems she has also set about to change.
We are delighted to have Zoe as our newest patron, as a survivor zoe understands our ethos and aims at identifying and plugging the gaps that sadly exist. Challenging system failures to achieve a better experience for others escaping abuse and agrees that educating for prevention is urgently needed.
We are grateful to Zoe for all that she continues to do and for who she is, she shows that recovery is possible and not only can you survive but can thrive with the right support. We look forward to all we can achieve together!
Zoe Dronfield is a survivor of a high-profile domestic violence attack, having been tortured and held for over eight hours. Although she escaped with her life, she was then subjected to a justice system that she describes as broken.
Using her 20+ years of professional experience working across the public sector, health, law enforcement and local government, advising on technology and services that support government policy, and having run a child protection agency, she can see clearly where the system is failing, so is compelled to make a difference.
A regular commentator in the media, Zoe is a campaigner for the rights of women, victims of domestic abuse and stalking. She has made fundamental changes in both the criminal and family justice system by using her own experiences to highlight failings and has changed legislation to close
loopholes.
Zoe is also on the Trust Board of Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service, the first trauma informed service for high-risk victims of stalking, and sits on the Victim and Witness Engagement Group at the Ministry of Justice with an input into court reform.
Zoe has even incorporated her keen interest in property to help others and owns a property
portfolio in her home city Coventry, where she works with local charities to house victims of abuse and homelessness.
Zoe said: “It’s an absolute honour to be asked to be patron of such a fantastic charity. The work Kaleidoscopic UK do is invaluable. They truly understand the journey of those experiencing domestic abuse all victims; adults and children as they are a team of survivors supporting survivors.
There is nothing more valuable than the validation and understanding of those who have also found themselves a victim to such a heinous crime. Together we will continue to support and advocate for victims by keeping the conversation alive.
We must make domestic abuse a perpetrators problem and put the onus on those who abuse to change! I’m very much looking forward to being part of the Kaleidoscopic UK Team”
Michelle Jordan
We are delighted and honoured that Michelle has become a patron for Kaleidoscopic UK.
Michelle is a current radio presenter at BBC radio berks weekdays for “michelle on the move” which covers numerous topics and local causes/issues among a heart-warming and an often laugh out loud show which michelle makes all listeners feel like part of the family with such ease.
Michelle presents on BBC radio oxford at weekends where again you can catch her show that makes your weekend far more entertaining, especially in 2020 where radio presenters are all some will get for interaction, again like all michelle does is delivered with kindness, happiness, putting her honesty, heart and soul into it.
Michelle is also a former morning breakfast radio presenter for Heart FM between 2010 and 2019 where, I’m sure like us, you were as heart broken and shed a tear when that ended last year after the station became nationally based. How lucky are we to have the reading treasure still able to brighten our whole week on the radio though.
Michelle is loved by us and all locally and beyond for her honest, bubbly and fun radio shows reaching far and wide, To have spoken about difficult subjects on the radio with michelle and her knowledge around domestic abuse, plus being an inspirational woman in all respects, we couldn’t think of a better suited patron. Thank you michelle for believing in us and being our first Patron and for being the incredible person you are.
Here’s a message from Michelle herself…
“Hi there my name is Michelle Jordan. I’d like to help in any way I can to raise awareness of Domestic Abuse.
After having witnessed first-hand one of my best friends suffer at the hands of her abuser and feeling helpless I never want to feel like that again. I also had feelings of despair, frustration, anger and an overwhelming feeling of not doing enough to challenge her abuser and get her out of that situation. I have unfortunately seen different types of coercive control in my friendship group, one in a younger male friend (he was the victim) & one in a very close friend who had endured this situation for a couple of decades while her kids were growing up.
Luckily in all 3 cases they are now living happy & fulfilling lives, no longer scared but the scars rear their ugly heads now and again. They have all found coping strategies and recognise that they are survivors. I know that some people have nowhere to turn and so the work Kaleidoscopic do could be life changing & life saving!
If thru my social media & my general gobby-ness on the radio helps this wonderful charity then bring it on!
Mich xx”
