The North Pole pioneer who traded drugs and guns for Chief Scout role

From hard times to a 'dream' job

A North Pole pioneer who turned his life around after a troubled past involving drugs, cocaine, and guns has landed his "dream" job as Chief Scout. Matty Stevenson has trekked to the geographic North Pole twice and was once part of a crack team that summited Mount Everest.

But his life was very different 20 years ago when he was, by his own admission, "lost" and dealing drugs.

However, he managed to turn his life around and is now inspiring other young people to avoid following a similar path.

He said: “My parents split up when I was young. There was a lot of fighting, arguing, and shouting. I started getting into trouble, hanging around with the wrong people. I blamed everyone else but myself for my problems. At the age of 23, I was arrested for possession with intent to supply drugs."

He was given a suspended sentence and ordered to do community service. It was then that he started to turn his life around.

He said: “I started to think about all the people I had let down: my family, my friends, and myself. I knew I needed to make a change.”

He began volunteering at a local scout group and quickly discovered a love of the outdoors.

He said: “Scouting gave me a sense of purpose and belonging. It helped me to develop my leadership skills and taught me the importance of teamwork."

He soon became a scout leader and then an assistant scoutmaster. In 2017, he achieved his dream of becoming a Chief Scout.

He said: “It is a real honor to be Chief Scout. I am passionate about helping young people to develop their full potential. I want to show them that anything is possible if they set their minds to it."

Matty's story is an inspiration to us all. It shows that it is never too late to turn your life around and that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.

Here are some of Matty's tips for young people who are struggling:

• Don't be afraid to ask for help.
• Surround yourself with positive people.
• Find something you are passionate about and pursue it.
• Never give up on your dreams.

Matty is a role model for young people everywhere. He is living proof that it is possible to overcome adversity and achieve your goals.