Ashuk Ahmed of Luton's award-winning Mitalee Youth Association was named in the Independent on Sunday's 2009 Happy List. According to the paper Ashuk, of Austin Road, is one of 100 people who make this a better, more caring and contented nation.

The list also includes naturalist Sir David Attenborough, civil liberties campaigner Shami Chakrabarti and Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington - who make us a better, more caring and contented nation.

The citation reads: "In Luton, where a third of the population is from ethnic minorities, this council worker founded the 24-hour radio station Diverse FM as a platform to promote community cohesion. The station is part of the 20-year-old Mitalee centre, which Ahmed co-founded to keep kids off the street. It offers youths accredited broadcasting courses and the chance to run their own show."

Ashuk, who recently returned from Bangladesh with a group from the Youth Association, still can't believe he appears on the list alongside such illustrious company.

He said: "This is such a huge honour for me. But there are many organisations in the voluntary sector in Luton working hard to make the town a better place for all to work and live in.

"For a national newspaper to recognise the achievement of Diverse FM and Mitalee couldn't have come at a better time, especially when the town has been at the wrong end of so much negative publicity."

He added: "I believe the credit for this success belongs to all our hardworking committee members and volunteers and in particular Mick Foster, chair of Diverse FM, and Mehbub Koyes, Mitalee's youth development worker, who contribute many long voluntary hours of support."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-iiosi-happy-list-2009--the-100-1671055.html