Our Team.

Andy first became involved in community work back in 2018 as a member of the William Morris Big Local outdoor spaces working group and took part in the initial setup of the planters around the Lord Palmerston road junction. Later he took part in the planning and set up of the Walthamstow Tool Library which opened in September 2020, and is now a regular volunteer there. Andy joined the Big Local partnership team in October 2021 and became a founding director of William Morris Community Threads in October 2023. Andy is now retired but worked in music publishing for 43 years and has been known to play music at events!

A recent mover in Walthamstow, Costas discovered William Morris Big Local in 2022, and since then has slowly increased his local community involvement. Active particularly in youth, outdoors, and local economy activities, he has a knack for teaching, and using his IT skills for charitable organisations. Costas is a Software Engineering Manager by trade, and carpenter and gardener by hobby.

Sue has lived in the William Morris area for nearly 30 years. She worked as an Early Years teacher and began volunteering in 2017 when she was working part-time, initially with Forest School sessions at Walthamstow Wetlands. Since retiring fully in 2019, Sue has been volunteering at Walthamstow Community Hub in a variety of roles - telephone befriending, helping to run the Hub Lounge and the Seniors Lunch Club. She joined the Big Local Partnership in autumn 2019 and has been involved in projects linked to their Outdoor Spaces and Community themes. Sue became a director of William Morris Community Threads in October 2023 to ensure the positive impact of Big Local in the William Morris area is maintained and developed in the future.

Surna first joined William Morris Big Local in 2021 as a parent at their Youth and Game Club, driven by the desire to support her son, who faces significant communication challenges. She created a chill-out room to help manage sensory overload and to support other children with similar needs. Shortly after, Surna began volunteering at both clubs and has remained dedicated to her volunteer work ever since, joining the Big Local partnership team the same year. The Games Club, started by WMBL in 2018, was hosted at the Salvation Army until 2023. After that, the Salvation Army assumed management and appointed Surna as Co-leader and Deputy Safeguarding Lead. In 2024, Surna was nominated by WMBL to undertake the Community Leadership Academy Course, which she successfully completed. That same year, her volunteer journey was featured in a WMBL case study. Surna became a founding Director of William Morris Community Threads in (2024), enhancing Big Local's positive impact in the William Morris area. Educationally, Surna holds a BA (Hons) in Health & Social Care (2021), a Post-Graduate Certificate in Autism & Asperger’s Syndromes (2018). BTEC First Diploma in Caring (1991), Pre-Nursing Course (1992), Speech and Language Training (2022), IPSEA SEND Law foundation Training course (2017). In 2024, she is completing the final year of her Master's in Autism Spectrum Studies and hopes to graduate in (2025). She is also planning to pursue a PhD at the London School of Economics in (2025). Additionally, in March 22025, Surna was recently selected by the ELBA Organisation to receive mentorship from Elvira Lautenschlager, Chief of Staff for Cyber Governance, Requirements and Regulatory Affairs (CGRRA) and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the UK & EMEA regions at UBS. UBS is a global investment bank and financial services company. This mentorship offers a unique opportunity for Surna to gain insights and expertise in strategic leadership, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance.

Susan has been with WMBL and WMCT since 2020

Oli has been involved in community work for twenty years. He moved to Walthamstow in 2014 where he lives with his wife and son. He is passionate about making others feel valued and empowered to serve their communities. Oli holds a first class Masters degree from King's College London and won the Mcaull award in 2023 for his contribution to academic studies. Oli was the Events and Communications Coordinator for William Morris Big Local from November 2023 to December 2024. Since January 2025 he has been on staff with William Morris Community Threads and coordinates the organisation's primary projects.