It is with a heavy heart that YMCA is announcing the end to its management of operations at Torpoint & Rame Community Sports Centre (known as YMCA Torpoint) on 31st March 2026.
YMCA’s continued operations at the centre have unfortunately become no longer possible due to the ongoing unsustainable financial position, which is forecast to worsen. To safeguard the future of the charity’s wider work locally, the difficult decision has been made to terminate the lease with Torpoint Community College and to step away from management of the centre after many years.
Over a long period of time, YMCA has sought diligently to secure investment, partnership opportunities and solutions to develop and protect the sustainability of the centre going forward. This has included extensive discussions with the facility’s owners, Torpoint Community College and other community partners. However, despite the efforts to find a way forward, no viable solutions have been forthcoming, leaving YMCA with the only option of stepping away from its role of operating the facility.
Staff at the Torpoint centre are being professionally consulted to discuss their individual circumstances during this week. Above all, YMCA recognises the difficulty of the situation for existing staff and will do all that its power to support every individual working for the charity during this time.
YMCA Plymouth’s primary centre, based in Honicknowle, Plymouth, remains in a strong and sustainable position with growing provision for the local community. Since 2021, the Plymouth centre has developed significantly through a plan of modernisation in conjunction with a range of community partners. Unfortunately, due to factors outside of the YMCA’s control, a similar turnaround hasn’t been possible with the Torpoint facility, despite the team’s best efforts.
YMCA would like to extend its sincere gratitude to the whole Torpoint community, its centre’s users, gym members, sports clubs and more, whose commitment and loyalty to our centre over many years have truly been appreciated by the entire YMCA team.
As a community charity, YMCA deeply regrets the loss of provision at this facility, knowing how vital it is to local residents. YMCA hopes that local support will allow for the continuity of these services after YMCA ceases its management. It will look to assist in this process in any way possible.
Individual communications will be sent out to Torpoint customers and clubs regarding specific arrangements in terms of cessation of memberships and direct debits, as well as reimbursement of membership or PT packages and bookings which may extend beyond the closure date of 31st March 2026.
Despite these circumstances, YMCA remains deeply committed to supporting its members’ health and wellbeing during this transition. As a gesture of goodwill, all Torpoint gym and class members are invited to utilise the facilities at YMCA Plymouth with immediate effect as part of their current membership. After which, a 50% discount for six months will be offered to any member who chooses to transfer their membership to the Plymouth centre.
Once again, YMCA is truly grateful for all the support of the Torpoint community, who have for many years engaged with our services and provision at the centre.
If customers or members of the community have further questions, the team will be happy to help. Please call 01752 815172 or email torpoint@ymcaplymouth.org.uk
UPDATE – 05/03/2026
Dear centre users and members of the community,
Firstly, the whole YMCA team would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of support and goodwill which we have received since our announcement that we are stepping away from management of the Sports Centre facility, which we lease from Torpoint Community College. Having supported the Torpoint community for nearly 20 years, we’ve been deeply touched by your kind comments of support.
As announced, a meeting with the Torpoint Community College was held earlier this week to discuss the termination of the lease and the end of YMCA operations on 31st March 2026 predominantly due to the centre’s unsustainable financial model.
Whilst the lease with TCC formally terminates on 31st August 2026, it is YMCA’s intention and hope that an agreement can be reached so that the centre is handed back to the school as swiftly as possible after our operations end on 31st March 2026. We have no intention to remain tenants longer than necessary, and a further meeting with the school is planned next week to discuss the return of the building in a way that is satisfactory to Torpoint Community College.
As part of our core mission to support local communities, we are committed to ensuring a fair and ethical transition. To this end, we are offering to leave in-situ or donate all YMCA-owned equipment back to the Torpoint community at the school’s bequest. This gesture provides the school and the community with the potential to move forward free from the constraints of the existing YMCA licence, subject to next week’s meeting. Our partnership will be able to share more on this subject after next week’s meeting.
As we mentioned in our previous statement, it is with much sadness that we are in the unfortunate position of stepping away from the management of the facility, especially after many years of supporting the Torpoint community. Regretfully, the centre’s unsustainable financial model (people-focused), which is only forecast to worsen, places a burden on our wider local charitable work, which would be unfair for YMCA as a charity to continue absorbing longer than necessary.
We would also like to reiterate that our decision was not taken quickly or lightly. It was only taken after a significant period of time exploring alternative solutions to sustain the facility, including funding opportunities and engagement with other stakeholders. Additionally, as YMCA was purely the leaseholder responsible for the management of the facility, our preferred option for capital development at the site was severely limited, as the charity itself would have been at risk, particularly with regards to the lease being terminated at any point by Torpoint School, with only a 6 months’ notice period required. It must be noted, however, that the school were receptive to reviewing and updating the lease to encourage capital investment, which was appreciated.
We sincerely hope an alternative and sustainable model can be found by Torpoint Community College. One thing YMCA can assure the community, we will do our utmost to support the transition and any future arrangement as best as we can, hopefully without further financial detriment, such as the recently invested £70,000 into the new flooring at the centre, following last year’s flood and insurance valuation gap.
Once again, our sincere thanks to the Torpoint community, the school and all our centre users for their support.
