James Child

“James’s story was inspirational. It’s awesome that he bravely went public to help clear a path (nobody should have to), but I’m most inspired by his self-awareness, accountability for mistakes and desire to improve. Too rare today.”

“James was a fantastic speaker and is a very special person. His openness, self-reflection and resilience were evident as he very willingly shared his story. James’ sexual orientation was almost an aside as he explained his journey, sharing challenges and successes along the way, and how he has used both platforms on which to grow and build strength.”

"The National Crime Agency marked the start of LGBT History Month on 1 February with a talk to officers from James. The NCA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture in which individuals can be themselves and give of their best and it was a pleasure to listen to James' insight on decision-making, resilience, leadership and the power of role models and allyship which all resonated with officers."

"James co-ordinated and spoke at a team event which was overwhelmingly well received and generated a lot of reflection from the attendees. James speaks clearly and powerfully about his lived experience, not shying away from the challenging experiences in his professional career but also celebrating the positives in an accessible and engaging way. Genuinely fascinating, thoughtful and wonderful."

"In an engaging and interactive presentation to our members, James touched upon all aspects about being an elite level match official and talked through a wide variety of thought-provoking situations both on and off the field of play. It was fascinating to hear James review and explain his rationale for some crucial season-defining decisions from games he had been involved in as well as how he dealt with abuse from fans on social media platforms in the aftermath of matches. James’s experience of working alongside video assistant referees was of particular interest to our members and very revealing to see how the role of this additional official in rugby differs to how it is performed in football. Such was the impact made by James, he was voted Speaker of the Year in 2022."

"James was a very insightful and knowledgeable speaker. He was able to put people at ease and clearly address the key aims of the session in a thoughtful and warm way."