Wyre Leisure 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.

When does the current contract between YMCA Fylde Coast and Wyre Council end?: The current leisure contract began in 2006 and will end on 31st March 2026.
Why is Wyre Council procuring a new service?: Wyre Council is obliged by procurement rules to offer the new service requirement on the open market at the end of the current contract.
What is the difference between the current contract and the new contract that is being offered?: At its heart, the existing contract requires the provider to deliver leisure services from the Council owned leisure facilities in Wyre. We work together with Wyre Council to share maintenance responsibilities with the Council taking liability for items above £5,000 and the YMCA taking ownership for items under £5,000. The limit of YMCA’s financial loss is also restricted through negotiation of an annual subsidy, with a contract break clause if losses exceed the agree subsidy by £100,000.
Outside of the contract, we then work together to try and use the centres for wider health and wellbeing benefit such as offering weight management or GP referral programmes.
The new service specification being offered through the contract still requires the operator to deliver leisure service from the centres, but it also requires the operator to manage capital investment programmes, with the expectation that they will also secure capital funds to support investment into the leisure centres.
The maintenance obligations have also shifted, with more liability being placed on the operator, whilst reporting requirements will also increase as will the responsibility to provide impact on the Council strategic objectives.
Finally, the new specification will provide the operator with a contracted management fee, with any losses over and above this fee being the liability of the operator.
Why has YMCA decided not to bid for the contract?: YMCA has been hugely proud to operate the services in Wyre for 20 years and we believe we have played an important role in those communities. However, the change in the service requirements mean that we now believe the contract needs a different kind of operator, one that can invest the amount of capital needed to update the facilities and one which can be sure it can manage the financial risk of the service. The underpinning rationale for opting not to bid, includes:
1; Capital – we are not able to commit capital investment for assets that are owned by
someone else and where there is not an exit available to recoup any investment should the financial return not be realised.
2; Capital – the board are aware of the need to find money to invest in our owned assets, whether that be through refurbishments or re-modelling and so investment in Wyre
assets is not seen as the priority.
3; Development – the requirement for the operator to lead the development of
Fleetwood leisure centre is not seen as something that we are well placed to do.
4; Financial risk – the new contract is seen as too much of a financial risk for an
organisation of our size.
Is YMCA planning on stopping its leisure offer completely?: Absolutely not. We see massive benefit in offering leisure and active wellbeing services to our members and the wider community and believe in the positive impact it has on both physical and mental health. Of course, there is no escaping that our offer and reach will of smaller scale but it will also allow us to focus our resources on developing
services from our own buildings.
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 from 1st April 2026?: A new provider will be operating Wyre Leisure facilities as of 1st April 2026.
Your Wyre leisure membership will be honoured by the new provider at all 5 Wyre leisure facilities (Fleetwood, Garstang Leisure, Garstang Swimming Pool, Poulton, Thornton).
YMCA Fylde Coast will be in direct contact with all members with further information.