A healthy living group which has provided services to thousands of people ranging from stopping smoking to losing weight is to hand over to a new body next year.

But Suffolk County Council whose public health department finances the work of Live Well Suffolk, insists that its replacement will have a larger budget and will be able to offer more services to clients.

The organisation is run by the London-based Thrive Tribe organisation and has been promoting public health since 2011.

It has helped thousands of people, including children, lose weight, and stop smoking since it was set up – it is based next to the Old Cattle Market bus station in Ipswich but it has centres across the county.

Steven Lee-Foster, director of Live Well Suffolk, said: “We are disappointed not to have been selected to continue to deliver services in Suffolk.

“Over the past five years the Live Well Suffolk team has been dedicated to helping residents across the county turn their lives around and take steps towards a healthier future.

“The feedback we have received from people who have used our services and the partners we work with has been fantastic year after year.

“Since 2011 we have helped thousands of Suffolk residents to stop smoking, lose weight, eat healthier and become more active.

“We will remain committed to helping people in Suffolk to make healthy lifestyle changes and will continue to deliver services as normal until 1st April 2016. When the time comes we will work closely with the new provider and share our experience with them to ensure a smooth transition of our services.”

Live Well’s contract with the county ends in April next year, and a new enhanced service is due to start operating at that time.

The new provider has not yet been chosen, but Thrive Tribe has been told it has not been shortlisted for the new contract.

The majority of the staff at Live Well Suffolk will be automatically transferred to the new operator when it is selected.

As well the current work undertaken by Live Well Suffolk, the new operator will also be able to offer health checks to those who are not able to access them from their own GPs.

Tony Goldson, cabinet member for health, said: “The Public Health team are currently in the process of procuring a new enhanced lifestyle service for Suffolk as the current contract is due to expire in 2016.

“We should be in the position to announce the new provider for the service at the beginning of 2016 which will start in April.

“We are investing additional money as this new service is vital to improving health of people in Suffolk. As this tender process is live we cannot comment further at this stage.”