19. Derek Webley, New Testament Church of God

To the outside world, mention of Lozells and Aston conjures up images of gang warfare, drug crime and drive-by shootings.

The perception is of an area that epitomises violence, out-of-control drug use, gang culture, and all that is failing in multicultural Britain, but the reality is very different, thanks to people like Bishop Derek Webley.

The Rt Rev Webley is a leading Christian, a fearless anti-gun campaigner, and a champion of the often-maligned community in which he lives and works. He is a high-profile churchman respected by the people around, him but also by those in authority. So much so, he was awarded the MBE for services to community relations in Birmingham in the recent Queen's birthday honours. When he received news of the award he was typically modest. "I am deeply humbled," he said.

The Rt Rev Webley is district bishop for the New Testament Church of God in Villa Road, Handsworth. As well as serving the church - he is a former chair of the Council for Black-Led Churches - he is also involved in numerous community groups, but his influence spreads wider than the Aston and Lozells area. He is also vice-chairman of the West Midlands Police Authority, providing a vital link between the police and minority ethnic communities.

In September last year hundreds of people packed into the New Testament Church of God for a service dedicated to Bishop Derek and his wife Sharon. The service marked a decade of duty.

Many community leaders paid tribute to his work. He was described as a man of courage and wisdom who has never been afraid to defuse tensions in the community. At the service Dolores Cooper, community relations officer for the Jamaican High Commission, compared to him to "a tilly lamp, burning bright".

As well as gun crime, gang warfare and community relations, Bishop Derek is not afraid to speak out on other issues affecting Birmingham as a whole. He has been vocal in his support for an elected mayor, calling for a referendum on the issue and saying that it's the peoples' right to choose how they are governed.