Why it matters

Welcome

A woman with curly hair smiling and standing outdoors in a garden with yellow flowers and green trees in the background.

Hello and welcome to Gloriously Ordinary Lives!

I’m Tricia Nicoll.

I started to use the idea of something being gloriously ordinary when my kids got to be in their mid-teens, 10 – 12 years ago. It felt like up until then, we had done pretty well in the world of ordinary – local school, local friends, the girl had piano lessons from a local teacher and the boy went to Saturday cinema.

Don’t get me wrong, we had to push a bit, but it was still doable – and really important to us as a family. As parents, we were really clear that they were going to have the same day to day life, opportunities and experiences as other young people of their age.

Three people sitting around a table, laughing and pointing at each other, with a laptop open in front of them. The group includes a young man, a young woman with glasses, and an older woman with a sunflower in her hair, inside a cozy room with framed artwork on the wall.
Two women with curly hair and glasses smiling for a photo, one wearing a yellow jacket and the other in a colorful patterned dress, standing close together indoors.

As they got into teenage years it seemed that the gap widened and the system was much keener for the ‘special’ alternative – the expectation that the boy would do his Duke of Edinburgh through the youth club for people with learning disabilities, or that the girl should go to the ‘special’ swimming session. Or even to say that there were some things on offer to all young people might not suit them or where they might not be welcomed.

I found myself repeatedly telling people that I wanted things to be ordinary – ‘gloriously ordinary’ and that seemed to resonate with people.

So this website holds everything I am thinking about and doing around the idea of creating Gloriously Ordinary Lives.

Have a look round and then maybe tell me what you’re doing?

Learn about The Five Tests
The name 'Chris' written in large, yellow, bold letters with a blue underline beneath.
Close-up of a smiling man with light skin, light brown and gray hair, blue eyes, and a beard with gray and brown hair. He is wearing a black sweater, and part of a white shirt is visible on the right side.

The initial thinking and branding for Gloriously Ordinary Lives was done by my hugely talented nephew and all round beautiful human being Chris Smith. He had the ability to get to the core of what I wanted to say and make it beautiful. I love you Mr Smith and you are sorely missed.

Learn more about the work I am involved in

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Black background with large white hashtag text reading #SocialCareFuture.
Social Care Future Vision Text Logo

Gloriously Ordinary Lives is part of the movement for a different Social Care Future.

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House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee report for a gloriously ordinary life

The House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee was appointed to consider the planning for, and delivery of, adult social care services in England.


Click the button to read the committee’s report on “A Gloriously ordinary life”

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