SNU - Safe Neighbourhoods Unit

SNU - Safe Neighbourhoods Unit - is a not-for-profit organisation working in the fields of neighbourhood development, regeneration and environmental improvement. Formed in 1981 as part of a larger organisation, NACRO, SNU became an independent charity (charity registration number 1001042) in 1990.

Work on Housing Estates

SNU was set up specifically to tackle problems on neglected housing estates caused by

• design deficiencies and poor repair standards
• inefficient and badly managed services
• poverty and lack of opportunity
• high crime and  inadequate community safety
• lack of environmental quality and ineffective waste management 

SNU's work on estates rests on the following principles:

• consulting and involving residents including young people
• gathering evidence about problems and issues
• designing change programmes
• negotiating with landlords, councils and other service providers
• measuring impacts and evaluating outcomes

Work across neighbourhoods and communities

SNU has applied its methodology of evidence gathering, consulting key stakeholders and negotiating change  to develop and evaluate other programmes and initiatives. Besides housing estates, SNU works on urban regeneration schemes, town centre strategies, local authority crime and community safety surveys, environmental improvement plans in parks and open spaces and waste and recycling strategies and evaluations.

Current activity

SNU's current work can be divided into three interest areas:

Tenant Management

Helping housing estate residents take more control over local services. Supporting residents facing changes in their neighbourhoods

Go to the Tenant Management page for more information

Regeneration and Community Safety

Planning and evaluating the impact of regeneration schemes and community safety initiatives in deprived neighbourhoods

Go to the Regeneration and Community Safety page for more information

Local Environments

Developing waste recycling initiatives on estates, in blocks of flats and in schools

Go to the Local Environments page for more information

Our projects

Read more about SNU's wide ranging experience

Download SNU's review of its work on housing estates 1981 - 2010 (1.86MB - PDF)

Go to the Our Projects page for more information about current clients and our past initiatives

Our Team

Read brief biographies of our principals

Go to Our Team

Contact SNU

snu@snu.co.uk

020 7403 6050

SNU 16 Winchester Walk London SE1 9AG