A CHARITY set up to celebrate Oxford's twinning with a Central American city is getting a new lease of life as it marks its 30th year.

The Oxford León Association Trust fosters links with fellow university city León, in Nicaragua.

But it was facing collapse earlier this year as long-serving volunteers said they were no longer able to run it.

Now the group is set to be relaunched by Oxford City Council next month with a new focus on cultural exchanges.

Councillor John Tanner, who visited León twice on behalf of the authority, said it was hoped the changes would secure the trust's future "for at least another 30 years".

He added: "León is a fantastic university city and is our only link with a developing country.

"We are hoping that can continue because Oxford has always been a very international place and it is important to foster connections with other communities around the world.

"The emphasis in the past has been on raising money for various projects but it will now be more on cultural links with the city and university and getting to know people there."

He added: "It is a lovely, warm place and the people are very friendly.

"There is a wonderful old cathedral and it is so different to anywhere in Europe.

"The houses are all single-storey and they sell beautiful mangos on the street for small change.

"It makes you rethink all your assumptions."

Oxford was twinned with León – the second poorest city in Latin America – in 1986 when there was a popular movement to twin UK cities with others in the developing world.

Since then the Oxford León Association Trust has organised exchanges and raised cash for clean water schemes, educational programmes and health initiatives.

The most recent fundraiser, in July, was a sponsored swim at Hinksey Outdoor Pools.

But the trust's future was thrown into doubt when chairwoman Jan Marshall confirmed she would step down due to health problems, prompting fears there were not enough existing volunteers to carry on.

Christian Bonilla, a Nicaraguan who has lived in Oxfordshire for more than 30 years, said the trust had done "fantastic work".

He said in July: "We need more people to come in to help."

The event to relaunch the association trust will take place at 7.30pm on October 6, in Oxford Town Hall.

Anyone interested in getting involved can come along, with ideas on how to expand links using digital technologies welcome.

For information about the Oxford León Association Trust, visit oxleonlink.org.uk