A DOCTOR from Ysbyty Gwynedd has been recognised with an MBE for his voluntary and community work which has changed the lives of hundreds of people.

Dr Ashok Kumar Bhuvanagiri has received an MBE for services to Cultural Cohesion and to charity.

Although he has spent most of his professional life as a doctor treating patients with urology issues, it’s his voluntary work as a community leader which sets him apart from others.

Whilst living in Scotland, he devoted an enormous amount of time to promote cultural integration between disparate Scottish communities.

In 2002, he founded the Telugu Association of Scotland, creating a forum for immigrants from India to share their experiences and engage with local communities.

North Wales Chronicle:

He said: “The association assists people with any day-to-day issues they face. It provides information on social, economic, financial, housing, health and educational problems and points people in the right direction for guidance. Through its wide range of activities, the association advocates social harmony, environmental awareness, and physical wellbeing.”

The association has now grown from a local voluntary organisation that helped a few people, to an accredited charity that impacts the lives of tens of hundreds of people across Scotland.

In 2015 he won the British Citizen Award for outstanding community service awarded by the House of Lords, and in 2013 was awarded Social Entrepreneur of the Year by Asian Lite, the global newspaper for the South Asian Diaspora.

He is also a member of a number of other groups and organisations such as the Gwynedd Council Equality Core Group and the Equality and Human Rights Operational Group for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. He is also a trustee for the Bangor Indian Friends Society.

Dr Bhuvanagiri, who joined Ysbyty Gwynedd in 2014, said he was delighted to receive an MBE for his work by the Queen.

He said: “It is wonderful to be recognised with such an honour and I was delighted to go down to London to receive my award from the Queen herself.”