CHESHIRE East Council is to save up to £100,000 a year by switching to a new company to provide a health programme for residents.

In 2016 Everybody Sport and Recreation was selected to provide One You Cheshire East, but from November 1 the programme will be delivered by Reed Wellbeing.

Everybody Sport and Recreation is a health and wellbeing charity which runs 15 leisure facilities across Cheshire, and said it was very disappointed it would no longer provide the One You programme.

An Everybody spokesman said: “Over the last three years Everybody designed, mobilised and successfully delivered physical activity, including during pregnancy, falls prevention, adult and child weight management and healthy eating programmes; over-achieving on every key performance indicator.

“These achievements led us to anticipate the One You contract would be extended for the final two years.

“However earlier this year Cheshire East Council chose to put the One You contract out for re-tender.

“The outcome of this process has now been decided, and we are extremely disappointed that after October 31 Everybody Sport and Recreation will no longer be the provider of One You Cheshire East.

“Despite this outcome we will continue to offer healthy lifestyle services to people to help them lose weight, get more active, meet new people and manage pain and medical conditions.”

A Cheshire East Council spokesman said: “The One You Cheshire East programme is aimed at improving the health of residents by reducing risk of heart disease and some cancers, tackling obesity and promoting healthy lifestyles.

“It is one of the council’s strategic outcomes that people live well and for longer, and the One You Cheshire East programme has an important role in helping meet that objective.

“Cheshire East Council has awarded the new One You contract to Reed Wellbeing. This follows a robust, open tender process involving a multi-agency approach, including public health and local clinical commissioning groups.

“The change in provider should not be seen as a reflection on the excellent work carried out by the leisure trust Everybody and Peaks and Plains housing group.

“The new contract, which is expected to see a cost-saving of up to £100,000 per year, was awarded after a thorough process. Reed Wellbeing achieved the highest score for price and quality and impressed the panel with their presentation.

“The new contract will begin on November 1, and will include weight management, falls prevention, physical activity and a ‘stop-smoking’ programme.”

The Everybody spokesman added: “We will continue to work alongside our established health partners to help people live well and for longer.

“This change to the One You contract does not affect our recent extension to the ESCAPE-Pain programme, our neurological conditions pilot and existing specialist rehabilitation classes for cardiac, cancer and COPD.

“Nor does this impact the delivery of our healthy walking programmes, family activities and disability and inclusion sessions.”