James Bull | Charity and Support

Firefighter James Bull is a voluntary advisor for Stand-By-Me , a charity offering bereavement support for children. He helps raise awareness and supports the organisation, while also working with young ambassadors supporting young bereaved children.

Knowing how running and endurance events became like therapy to James,  he founded a running group Miles 4 Mates which serves as a physical therapy and support group for those suffering from mental health issues.

Since 2021, James Bull has been an Ambassador for the charity PTSD999, supporting, representing and promoting the charity who offer a voice in the darkness to many who are struggling with PTSD. James uses the high-profile events and challenges to raise awareness through his own lived experience.

After several requests from those he had supported and inspired to seek help, he started his YouTube channel @BlackDogRunClub which focuses on his races across the world, raising awareness of mental health, discussing mindset and resilience and providing an insight into the life of a frontline emergency operator. He has also been approached by a publisher to release his book which is close to completion.

James Bull | Speaker

James has as an important and powerful message to share, and is now a well sought-after lived experience public speaker on the subjects of mental health, suicide, anxiety, PTSD, mindset and resilience. He has provided keynote speeches at numerous businesses and organisations, as well as emergency services, military, and sports clubs establishments.

Using his challenges as his therapy, James has developed a mindset to combat adversity, and is able to demonstrate that the mind can be as strong as the body when inspiring his audiences. He is the first to admit, his recovery journey is far from over, and remains a work in progress; but his message is one that promotes thought about the reality of our personal situation, and the tools we have to develop to reach a better place.

James Bull | Speaking Topics

– Resilience

– Overcoming Adversity

– Growth Mindset

– Mental Health, PTSD, Anxiety, Suicide, Bereavement Awareness

– Reframing Perceptions and Redefining Boundaries

– Strength in Neurodiversity

– Overcoming and Embracing Fear

Why Book James Bull?

James has worked a life in hostile and upsetting environments facing pressure and stress not usually encountered in ‘normal’ walks of life. Operational experiences and decisions that impact daily life have served to torment his very existence. Having battled the demons that had been kept a secret for over 20 years, James took the brave decision to expose the truth, as much to help himself as to health others in the same boat as him.

His important story received widespread media coverage, and was worthy of a documentary film, three years in the making.

Despite existing within a perceived macho environment, James recounts his experiences with refreshing humility and vulnerability to challenge perceptions and stigma; whilst encouraging discussions and growth in any organisation. His story is full of emotion that has moved and inspired audiences in equal measure.

James draws upon his operational and ultra-endurance challenges to raise awareness and funds for charitable organisations he represents in this space; and inspires his audience to build resilience from adversity and adopt techniques that reframe hardship as opportunity.

A life in uniformed disciplined service ensures James prepares a brief with the client to ascertain key motivations and drivers of the organisation, and he will tailor his presentations around this. He will seek to build his message around key objectives and challenges faced by the client. He is also happy to take Q&A and stay beyond his talk to discuss some of his adventures in an open forum.

He is not a celebrity or famous public figure, and he is keen to keep it this way; but he brings a unique perspective that becomes instantly relatable to people in all walks of life by applying some techniques he has developed through years of solitude and suffering.

This is key to why he has become a much sought-after public and motivational lived experience speaker within corporate organisations and businesses, clubs and societies, public service institutions, schools, colleges, and educational establishments.

James Bull | Key Takeaways

Adversity Introduces a Man to Himself: Facing adversity can lead to resilience if we are able to harness it to cultivate a mindset. Damaged people are dangerous – they know they can survive. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy” (Martin Luther King Jr.)

Reframe Perceptions: Overcoming adversity and building resilience affords us an ability to reframe our perception of what is challenging and difficult. If we have learnt techniques to embrace the storm, we can leverage a growth mindset and harness our ‘why’.

Redefine Boundaries: Our minds will give up long before our bodies. Focus on foundations and prioritise efforts. Don’t be lazy or look for marginal gains. If you restrict yourself to comfort zones and perceived limitations, you will fail to embrace and harness your fear. You will fail to see opportunity in hardship. Show up, be consistent. Consistency forms habits, habits shape life choices.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book Fire and Rescue Service commander,  mental health advocate and speaker James Bull for your next live event or corporate video.

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