STAFF will get two paid days a year to do community work as part of the Wigan Council’s new deal.

Employees will be able to use the days to do voluntary work in the borough as part of a push to encourage more people to be active in their communities.

The council wants its staff to play a major part in The Deal, an informal contract with residents aimed at getting the public to help the council change and save money.

Donna Hall, chief executive of Wigan Council, said: “It’s amazing how much our staff already give to their communities. We want to encourage this as much as we can and hopefully persuade even more employees to give something back.

“We are working on a staff version of The Deal too, which will be focused on what kind of employer we are and how our staff can help us achieve our ambitions.”

For more information about The Deal visit: www.wigan.gov.uk/thedeal.