A new scheme is offering hope to homeless veterans at a railway station in Sussex.
Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR) has launched a secure mailbox at Crawley station in partnership with Squaddie Box, a not-for-profit organisation that helps homeless veterans and blue light workers regain stability by providing them with a permanent postal address.
The new service gives users 24-hour access to a locked mailbox, allowing them to receive mail safely and consistently – a key step in accessing healthcare, employment, and support services.
Andrew Mahoney, co-founder of GTR’s Armed Forces Network, said: "We’re proud to have launched GTR’s first-ever Squaddie Box at Crawley station, which will help veterans and blue light workers reconnect with society, access support, and move towards stable employment and independence."
Crawley was chosen as the pilot location for GTR’s first Squaddie Box due to ongoing housing pressures, following Crawley Borough Council declaring a housing emergency in 2024.
Dean Wormleighton, CEO and founder of Squaddie Box, said: "We’re excited to partner with GTR to launch our Squaddie Box installation at Crawley station, which represents a significant milestone for the project because it will be the fourth pod installed since the initiative began in July 2025.
“Our first Squaddie Box beneficiary was able to register with a GP almost immediately after receiving access to a Squaddie Box and reconnect with wider support pathways that had been previously difficult to access.
"It demonstrates that Squaddie Box is about far more than receiving post – it is about restoring dignity, opportunity, and hope."
The first Crawley user of the scheme, homeless veteran Chris Powis, signed up for the mailbox before it had even officially opened on June 24.
Mr Powis served in the British Army for 13 years before becoming homeless.
The mailbox is located by the station car park on Station Way, with anyone who wishes to apply for access encouraged to do so via the Squaddie Box website.
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GTR’s Armed Forces Network contributed £1,000 toward the scheme.
Crawley joins three other Squaddie Box sites already in operation – in Hastings, Clacton-on-Sea, and Rustington.
The scheme has also expanded to support the wider homeless community through a similar programme called Civvie Box.
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