The Lisieux Trust recently welcomed visitors from Japan as part of an ongoing collaboration exploring how communities can support people through life’s challenges, loss and change.

Keiko Chida (right on main picture), from the End-of-Life Care Association in Japan, and social welfare student Yuuka (left) visited the charity to learn more about its work supporting adults with a learning disability and autistic adults to live happy, enriched lives, full of opportunity and choice.

During their visit, they led an origami session with tenants and visited several Lisieux Trust homes.

The visit builds on a relationship that began in 2023 when Emma Hodges, Chief Executive Officer of Lisieux Trust, travelled to Japan as part of the Compassionate Communities Japan programme.

Reflecting on that experience, Emma Hodges said: “I met Keiko in Japan in 2023 when I was lucky enough to visit as part of a Compassionate Communities Japan programme. A compassionate community is one where people support each other, particularly during life’s more difficult times. The very best support comes from the love, laughter and friendship we share with others.”

During her visit to Japan, Emma learned about Lessons of Life, a programme developed by Keiko to help people understand emotions during difficult times and support one another more effectively.

Emma said: “Keiko talked about a programme she runs in Japan called Lessons of Life which is brilliant at helping people understand their feelings when times are tough. It shows us that we do not have to be sad alone, that we always have a purpose, and that we can support other people too.”

The two remained in contact and, following a further visit from Keiko in 2025, Lessons of Life can now be delivered in the UK.

“Keiko and I stayed in touch and, in 2025, she visited again to teach us more about Lessons of Life,” said Emma. “With the help of others, we can now offer the programme in the UK.”

During her visit to Lisieux Trust, Keiko was impressed by the culture of mutual support she observed.

“Support is not in a place, but in the relationship,” she said in a social media post reflecting on the trip. “I felt again that independence does not mean being able to do everything alone. It means being able to live as yourself, with the support you need.”

Keiko also noted how support flowed naturally between people. “Someone becomes a source of support for someone else. A person who receives support in one moment may become a source of support for another person in the next.”

The origami session proved a particular highlight for tenant Rosa, who said: “We went to the office and made a dog and a heart. I handed out the greeting cards that I made in my session and they were really nice.”

Speaking about the visit, Emma said she was delighted to welcome Keiko and Yuuka to the charity.

“As I am now working at Lisieux Trust, I was really pleased to be able to share what the charity is all about,” she said.