Ashleigh Lancaster
Justice Reform Consultant
Author of The Truth Underneath
About
"Change Begins by Uncovering the Truth"
Ashleigh is an independent consultant, writer and speaker specialising in policy change, justice reform and systemic accountability. Her work is shaped by her own lived experience and combines an evidence-based approach to influence policy, improve professional practice and raise awareness surrounding domestic abuse, stalking and breaches of protective court orders.Surviving domestic abuse is the foundation of Ashleigh's expertise. Her lived experience provides an authentic, irreplaceable understanding of trauma and systemic failures. Combined with reflection, healing and an evidence-based approach, it enables her to contribute from a balanced, credible and solutions-focused perspective.
Ashleigh’s advocacy has driven accountability, securing formal acknowledgements and apologies from both the First Minister and Justice Secretary of Scotland regarding systemic failures. Recognised as a two-time 2024 King’s Trust Breakthrough Award winner and 2025 Pride of Scotland 'National Hero', her platform continues to grow. As the author of The Truth Underneath, she has shared her story with senior corporate leaders, politicians, celebrities and royalty – work that has led her to the heart of the Scottish Parliament and Buckingham Palace.Beyond policy, Ashleigh is an impactful public speaker, delivering keynotes for organisations such as Women's Aid and sharing her journey on major platforms including Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast. Alongside her public work, she actively shapes reform from the ground up – consulting on parliamentary Bill proposals, engaging directly with senior professionals across Scotland’s justice and policing landscape, and actively sits on the Advisory Board of Lived Experiences (ABLE) with the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU).
Services
Policy Influence
Having consulted directly on Scottish Parliament Bill proposals, engaged with Scottish Ministers, and written her own proposals for legislative change, Ashleigh brings direct experience in research, stakeholder engagement, and drafting Justice Reform frameworks. She offers specialist consulting for organisations, public bodies, and advocacy teams seeking to review internal safety measures, evaluate service delivery, and develop survivor-led solutions.
Trauma-Informed Practice & Training Development
Qualified with a Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET), Ashleigh offers consultation, reviewing, and shaping of training programmes. Her work focuses on trauma-informed practice across frontline services and organisations – improving professional responses to cases of domestic abuse where there is an existing mental health diagnosis.
Keynote Speaking
From representing The King's Trust as a Young Ambassador to delivering keynotes for Women's Aid, Ashleigh speaks to audiences across the corporate, public, and third sectors. Her talks focus on overcoming adversity, building resilience, and using lived experience to drive systemic accountability and meaningful cultural change.
Author, Media & Public Engagement
A featured guest on major platforms including Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, Ashleigh provides written content and media interviews. As the author of The Truth Underneath, she draws on her book to expose the psychological reality of abusive relationships, the weight of self-destruction, and what survival actually looks like – supporting awareness, education, and professional understanding.
Contact
Please fill in the form below to contact Ashleigh
Gallery
PRIVACY POLICY
Last updated: 12th October 2026
1. Introduction & Data Controller
This website is operated by Ashleigh Lancaster, an independent justice reform advocate, consultant, author and trainer.
For the purposes of UK data protection law, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, Ashleigh Lancaster is the Data Controller responsible for your personal data.
If you have any questions about how your personal data is handled, or wish to exercise your data protection rights, you can contact me using the contact form on this website.
2. What Personal Data I Collect
When you use the contact form on this website, I may collect:
• Your name;
• Your email address;
• Your telephone number, if you choose to provide it; and
• Any information you choose to include in your message.
You do not need to provide information that is not necessary for your enquiry.
Please avoid including sensitive personal information in your message unless it is relevant to your enquiry and necessary for me to understand or respond to it.
3. How I Use Your Personal Data
I use the information you provide to:
• Respond to your enquiry;
• Discuss and provide information about my consultancy, training, speaking, advocacy, writing or other professional services;
• Communicate with you about potential or existing professional work;
• Arrange and manage services or professional engagements where applicable;
• Keep appropriate records of enquiries and professional correspondence; and
• Protect the security and proper operation of the website.
I will only use your personal data for purposes that are compatible with the reason it was collected, or where another lawful basis permits me to do so.
4. Lawful Basis for Processing
For enquiries submitted through the contact form, I rely primarily on legitimate interests under Article 6(1)(f) of the UK GDPR.
My legitimate interests include being able to respond to people who contact me, consider potential professional opportunities, provide information about my services, communicate with clients and prospective clients, and maintain appropriate records of professional correspondence.
I consider that this processing is necessary and proportionate and that people who contact me would reasonably expect their information to be used in this way.
Where I process personal data on another lawful basis, I will ensure that the appropriate lawful basis is relied upon.
5. How Your Information Is Collected and Stored
The website is hosted using Carrd and uses a contact form to receive enquiries.
Information submitted through the contact form is transmitted to me by email so that I can respond to your enquiry.
I do not sell, rent or otherwise trade your personal information to third parties.
Your information may be processed by service providers where this is necessary to operate the website, transmit contact-form submissions, provide email services, maintain security or comply with legal obligations.
6. International Transfers
Some service providers used to operate websites and email systems may process information outside the United Kingdom.
Where personal data is transferred outside the UK, appropriate safeguards will be used where required by applicable data protection law.
7. How Long I Keep Your Information
I will normally keep contact-form enquiries and related correspondence for 12 months after the last meaningful communication, unless there is a legitimate reason to retain the information for longer.
Information may be retained for longer where it relates to an ongoing professional relationship, contractual relationship, complaint, dispute, legal claim, or where I am legally required to retain it.
When personal information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or otherwise disposed of appropriately.
8. Your Data Protection Rights
Depending on the circumstances and the lawful basis for processing, you may have the right to:
• Request access to the personal data I hold about you;
• Ask me to correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data;
• Request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances;
• Ask me to restrict the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances;
• Object to processing where I am relying on legitimate interests;
• Request the transfer of your personal data in certain circumstances; and
• Exercise other rights available to you under applicable data protection law.
These rights are not absolute and may not apply in every circumstance.
Right to Object
Where I process your personal data on the basis of legitimate interests, you have the right to object to that processing. I will stop processing your personal data unless I can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for continuing to do so, or the processing is required for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.
9. How to Exercise Your Rights
If you wish to exercise any of your data protection rights, please contact me using the contact form on this website.
Please provide your name, email address and sufficient information to identify your request.
I may need to request additional information to verify your identity before responding to a request.
Data protection requests are normally handled free of charge. I will normally respond within one month, although this period may be extended where permitted by law for particularly complex or multiple requests.
10. Automated Decision-Making
I do not use your personal data to make solely automated decisions, including profiling, that have legal or similarly significant effects on you.
11. Cookies
This website may use cookies or similar technologies that are necessary for the website to function.
Where cookies or similar technologies are used for analytics, advertising or other non-essential purposes, appropriate information and consent mechanisms will be provided where required by law.
12. Complaints
If you have concerns about how I have handled your personal data, please contact me using the website's contact form in the first instance so that I have an opportunity to address your concerns.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe your personal data has been handled unlawfully.
Further information about the ICO and how to make a complaint is available at:
https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to my services, the website, how personal data is processed, or applicable data protection law.
The latest version will always be published on this website, with the date of the latest update shown at the top of the policy.
© 2026 Ashleigh Lancaster. All Rights Reserved.