A deputy headteacher and avid fundraiser from Oldham has received a nod from the Prime Minister's office.

Steve Hill MBE, who is the deputy head at St Joseph's school in Shaw and the founder of the Team Hill Charitable Trust, fundraises hundreds of thousands of pounds for local and international causes through his various expeditions and challenges.

Steve has travelled all over the world, run several marathons - including a 'month of marathons' in Costa Rica and Tajikistan, and the Uganda marathon five times where he was recently appointed Chairman on its Board of Trustees - and has even published a book to inspire his school pupils, called 'What's Next Sir?'

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to The Oldham Times’ morning and evening newsletters as well as our breaking news alerts 

Meanwhile, his charity has been busy helping to build a new school and medical centre in Uganda.

In 2015, Steve was invited to Buckingham Palace where he met the late Queen Elizabeth II to receive his MBE - and the pair even shared a special moment as he made her laugh.

Now, and several accolades later, Steve has been awarded the Points of Light Award from the Prime Minister's Office.

The daily award goes to outstanding individual volunteers - people who are making a change in their community.

The notice, published officially from 10 Downing Street, reads: "Steve has undertaken a huge number of fundraising challenges to raise over £200,000 for good causes.

"These have included climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, trekking 200 miles across the Sahara Desert and completing multiple marathons, including the Mount Everest and North Pole Marathons, along with Ultra Marathons through the Amazon Jungle and the Arctic wilderness.

"Most recently, Steve completed 14 consecutive marathons running coast to coast across Costa Rica and Tajikistan."

It continues: "In 2019, Steve founded his own charity, ‘Team Hill Charitable Trust’, through which he raises money to support projects and causes in his local community.

"Steve organises gift bag appeals for young carers in Oldham, purchases equipment for children with disabilities, and regularly spends time decorating the local hospital’s children outpatient department.

"Having completed the Uganda marathon five times, Steve has forged close community ties in the country and, through ‘Team Hill Charitable Trust’, supports many projects there.

"Steve has provided funding for the building of three schools and dormitories, organised donations of trainers, football equipment and stationery, and supported the ‘Make Women Smile’ initiative."

Reacting to the news, Steve said: “I’m thrilled to receive a Points of Light Award from the Prime Minister – it’s such a huge honour and so unexpected!

“I’d like to thank everyone who supports the work of Team Hill Charitable Trust in our ongoing mission to make a difference in the world – they are all such a huge part of this amazing award.

"Thank you." 

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.