YMCA Fylde Coast & St Annes Pool FAQs

Big changes are coming to YMCA Fylde Coast as we move forward with our ambition to grow the quality of our services. As a charity operating on the Fylde Coast since 1922, YMCA has long delivered its charitable work through its leisure, housing, youth and outdoor education services. We are excited to be planning new investment into our owned buildings, including refurbishments at our leisure centres in St Annes and Lytham as well as at our flagship outdoor education centre on the south-western shores of Windermere. As part of this strategic investment, we have opted not to submit bids to continue our contracts to operate the local authority owned leisure centres in Fylde and Wyre beyond 31st March 2026. The questions below cover some of the immediate questions people may have and we commit to adding these questions as more information becomes available.

St Annes Pool FAQs

Is it true that you are planning refurbishments at your St Annes and Lytham sites?: Yes! Earlier this summer we carried out member consultation to understand more about how you use our centres and how you would like to see them improved. Over the last few months, we have been working up proposals to firstly refurbish St Annes Leisure Centre before moving on to Lytham. You’ll hear more about these exciting plans over the coming weeks.
I’ve heard that YMCA will not be running St Annes Pool. Is this true?: Over the last 15 years, YMCA has been hugely proud to run the services but from 1st April 2026 we will no longer be involved in operating St Annes Pool. We will, however, still be operating, and investing in, our two owned sites in St Annes and Lytham.
Why won’t YMCA be operating the centres?: St Annes Pool is owned by Fylde Council and YMCA has been operating the facility under contract since 2011. This contract was due to expire this summer and so the Council launched a procurement process and associated service specification earlier this year. On assessment of the service specification, and after much careful consideration, YMCA opted not to submit a proposal for continued operation of the facility.
However, we have agreed a short-term contract extension to allow the Council to complete their procurement exercise and ensure continued service provision through until 1st April 2026.
Is leisure less important to YMCA now?: Absolutely not. We have a long held belief in the benefits of an active lifestyle and we will be actively pursuing other opportunities to provide our members and local communities with the chance to enjoy being physically active. In the meantime, we are already working up investment options to enhance our provision at YMCA St Annes and YMCA Lytham. We are looking forward to sharing those plans this coming Autumn.
What does this mean for my membership?: Between now and 31st March 2026 nothing will change.
You will continue to be able to use your YMCA membership exactly as you are doing now and an annual membership purchased today will still give the same membership benefits until 31st March 2026. Please see the next question for what happens from the 1st April 2026.
What happens after March 2026?: A new provider will be operating St Annes Swimming Pool as of 1st April 2026.
Your St Annes Swimming Pool membership will be honoured by the new provider at St Annes Swimming Pool.
YMCA Fylde Coast aims to work with the new operator to explore favourable partnership opportunities.
YMCA Fylde Coast will be in direct contact with all members with further information.