“The biggest challenge of Covid-19 has been not being able to physically get people together, but I believe it has made communities stronger, neighbours getting to know each other, charities working together towards one goal,” he said.
“We have to break down barriers of fear. There has to be a cultural shift.
“I never expected this kind of recognition after 19 years of community work – it is a privilege.
“But it is collective. It is for all those volunteers who work day in and day out to help others.”
In 2017 he identified the increasing number of heart attacks within high-risk ethnic minority groups and co-founded the first national charity that provides free Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training to community groups in four South Asian languages.
More about the New Year Honours 2021 here .