Graeme Armstrong

I am Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Young Team, based on my experiences of 00s gang culture in North Lanarkshire. The main themes I cover in my work are gangs, violence, masculinity, substance misuse, alcohol and mental health. I have given talks to school groups and inside Her Majesty’s Prison service to maximum-security offenders. I have engaged with Community Justice Scotland and the Violence Reduction Unit. I am passionate about prevention and making a difference in our communities.

My writing is for adults and contains mature content and some strong language, but covers many themes experienced by teenagers. This is best deployed as part of class discussion around these themes with space to share, process, debate and challenge.

My delivery of material is hard-hitting and is best suited to suitable groups, minimum S3/4.  Staff workshops are particularly effective. Talks consist of dramatic readings and discussion around my experiences. My journey started by being expelled from high school to completing both an undergraduate English degree with honours and a Master’s degree in Creative Writing. My life trajectory was changed by a single book. I can testify, first-hand, to the incredible transformative power of words and education.

(Photo credit: Robin Farquhar Thomson)