Fylde Coast YMCA and Wyre Borough Council have teamed up for the Wyre Performance Pass, a new initiative that allows amateur sportsmen and women competing at national and international level to access the borough's leisure facilities totally free of charge.
Passholders are able to make use of the gyms, pools and other facilities at the Poulton, Fleetwood, Thornton and Garstang centres, in return for the occasional personal appearance and maybe a coaching session or two.
Coun Lynne Bowen, Living Healthily Portfolio Holder for Wyre Borough Council, said: "Cost can be a real barrier to our local amateurs and some are forced to give up because of it. We hope that by offering them free use of the facilities they can continue their involvement and do the borough proud.
"It's also a recognition of what they have achieved so far and the tremendous amount of work they have put in to get there.''
First to sign up for the Wyre Performance Pass is 19-year-old Joanna Forrest, an award-winning national hockey umpire, who has been given the freedom of the leisure centres in her home borough.
Joanna is umpiring at the top level under England Hockey, officiating at matches all over the UK. She has also just been named National Young Umpire of the Year for 2008. Achieving all this means maintaining a high level of endurance which in turn means plenty of hours in the gym - previously a costly activity for a university student.
Joanna said: "This initiative is a huge benefit to me financially. I have increased costs now I am travelling around the country and not having to pay for a gym is fantastic. It means I can afford to keep on top of my fitness over the summer and be ready to start the new season, which is usually very difficult.
"I have to run as much as the ball does with a lot of stopping and starting, so building up speed is my first priority to get me ahead of play. Although I do have my own training programme, I really want to work with the fitness instructors at the centre because I don't know enough about improving my fitness levels or getting the most out of my training.''
Mike Vernon, Wyre Leisure Director with Fylde Coast YMCA, hopes Joanna will become a role model for athletes who aspire to the highest level in their chosen field.
He said: "If Wyre's youngsters have the potential to reach the top of their game we want to be involved in helping them get there, especially in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics.
"We view ourselves as having the expertise to help people who need to train at this level, not just because of our first rate equipment, but also by drawing on the experience our coaches have in physiology and sports science.''
More details about the Wyre Performance Pass, and the qualifying criteria, are available on the council's website at www.wyrebc.gov.uk
Alternatively, call Ian Munro on 01253 891000.