PUPILS in two Clacks secondary schools were given the chance to listen to an author talk about his experiences with gang violence.

Graeme Armstrong, author of The Young Team, visited Alva and Lornshill Academies across Thursday, November 7 and Friday, November 8 to help educate the pupils on anti-violence.

The award-winning author hails from Airdrie and touches on his own life experiences during his school visits.

The visit was organised by PC Arundel, the schools based police officer for Alva and Lornshill.

They commented: “This was a very inspirational story which focuses on drug and alcohol abuse along with gang violence.

GRIPPING: Graeme gives his talk on his own life experiences and how he escaped gang violence.GRIPPING: Graeme gives his talk on his own life experiences and how he escaped gang violence. (Image: Police Scotland Forth Valley) “This provided staff and pupils with information and advice, from someone with lived experience, of the impact of substance abuse and gang related violence.

“The pupils took a lot from these inputs and are more aware of the circumstances affecting decisions relating to substance abuse and violence.”

Graeme was involved in gang violence in his youth, being a part of the Young Mavis group in North Lanarkshire.

He turned his back on that life and pursued higher education, which inspired his novel The Young Team.

Graeme now hosts workshops and conferences around youth violence, which has seen him give speeches at various schools including the Alloa Academy Celebrating Senior Success Awards Night.