A deputy headteacher who already has a plethora of prestigious awards for his charity work has been shortlisted for another special award.

Steve Hill MBE has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity, has written a book about his extreme challenges and adventures and continues to work hard for causes both at home and abroad through his charity, the Team Hill Charitable Trust.

The inspirational teacher at St Joseph's school in Shaw has a slew of awards to his name already, including his MBE which was given to him after he met the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2015, and the Lancastrian Award 2022.

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He also published his book, 'What's next sir? How one teacher's mission to inspire his pupils taught him so much more in return', last year, which documents his many adventures and extreme challenges for charity.

However, he's not slowed down in the past 12 months either as more recently he visited Uganda to check on his charity's progress in supporting and building a new school and medical facility before embarking on his biggest challenge yet - a month of marathons.

Throughout August, Steve ran through the tough terrains of Costa Rica and Tajikistan for charity during the summer break from school and had only days to recover before returning back to class this September.

When he returned back home to Oldham, he was then surprised by the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Zahid Chauhan, who awarded Steve with The Borough's Coat of Arms Shield.

Now, the prolific fundraiser has announced he's been nominated for two prestigious Manchester-based awards in separate ceremonies.

He's up for an I Love MCR Award, in the category 'most loved community leader' this November 23, as well as the Dianne Oxberry Special Impact Award at the This Is Manchester Awards on November 9.

While I Love MCR Awards promises to celebrate Manchester's "unique sense of civic pride", This Is Manchester Awards seeks to celebrate the "incredible talent Manchester has at its heart - the best of the best".

Last year, Steve was awarded with the 'individual making a difference in the community' award and says he is shocked and "honoured" to be up for the Dianne Oxberry Award.

The Dianne Oxberry Award is named after the English broadcaster and meteorologist who was best known as a long-serving TV and radio presenter for BBC North West before she died aged 51 in 2019 to ovarian cancer, just 10 days after her diagnosis.

The Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, had described Dianne as "a true friend of the north west of England".

This Is Manchester said it was "incredibly fortunate" to have had Dianne in its inaugural awards in 2018 and decided to create a legacy award in recognition of her "longstanding career and values".

The shortlist is made up of 10 inspirational people this year but the award will go to the individual who embodies Dianne's spirit and values and who has "faced adversity and won" to create their own "lasting legacy".

While all 10 have undoubtedly made a difference, the award, which will be judged by Dianne's husband, Ian Hindle, and trustees of the Dianne Oxberry Trust, will go to the person who has worked hard "against all odds" with "no handouts or leg-ups" - just "sheer graft and grit".

Speaking to The Oldham Times, Steve said: "I can't quite believe I'm up for this award, on the back of the I Love MCR Awards too!

"Wow.

"Not sure what I've done to deserve this but I'm very honoured to have been shortlisted for the Diane Oxberry Special Impact Award

"It's such a huge honour.

"Thank you to everyone for their continued support and encouragement."

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.