Latest news with #JamesBennett
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC 1Xtra DJ Day Day adds urban mixes to Birmingham school timetable
Just half an hour after broadcasting live across the UK, a BBC radio presenter found himself in a dance studio at a Birmingham secondary school looking to inspire the next Radio 1Xtra's daytime presenter DJ Day Day travelled the four miles from the BBC's Mailbox studios to Holy Trinity Catholic School in Small Heath to run a DJ visit was part of art teacher James Bennett's Hip Hop Healing programme, where he uses hip-hop, art and dance to engage his young people are working on a series of performances, which will be presented to the rest of the school on the last day of term on Friday. "I have a lot of younger people around me, my nephews, my nieces, not necessarily academically smart, but I can see the potential within them," said DJ Day Day."And some kids, they learn in different ways. Music is definitely something they can learn from."And when I was in school, I did a DJ workshop and I guess that was the beginning for me, so I could be that person for somebody here today." Asked if he could be seen as a role model, DJ Day Day said the thought made him "feel good"."It's important to have role models and somebody to look up to," he said."I'm from Birmingham so it's important for me to come up and try to inspire."We are in an age where you don't necessarily need to be a doctor or a lawyer or traditional things. You can be a DJ or a radio presenter and still do well for yourself."If I'm able to encourage people to get into the creative fields, that's my main objective." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Nuneaton teacher uses hip-hop to help pupils cope with grief
A teacher from Nuneaton is using hip-hop and street art to help pupils learn how to cope with grief and Bennett works at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Small Heath, Birmingham, and set up a lunchtime club called Hip-Hop Healing, where students record raps and design graffiti Bennett, who has been teaching for 20 years, said after two decades of experience, the elements of hip-hop had been "the thing that got through to the kids the most". Sam, 14, regularly attends the club and said it had really helped him cope with the loss of his mum who had recently died after a stroke. "It was good, because not many people have lost their mum that I know of, but I have a passion for music and so does sir [Mr Bennett]," Sam Bennett's mother had also died in the last few years and the pair worked together on a rap."He helped me get through the thing with my mum," the 14-year-old added that Mr Bennett had supported him to "turn his hurt into something he enjoyed" and the club had helped him to "put his mind to it". Another student, Rosanna, said Hip-Hop Healing had helped her "develop as a person" and "grow"."It's helped me look at life in a different perspective, it's really made me think and wonder how I can change the way I perceive things," she said. The Birmingham teacher previously called for elements of hip-hop to be added to the national curriculum. "The programme is about healing, writing it, getting it out and doing it to music. "It's teaching kids different methods," Mr Bennett said. He added that the aim of the club was to use hip-hop as a "starting point", however students were also offered the chance to learn about mindfulness and meditation. He said that the lunchtime programme offered a "safe space" where the students could "shift their mindset from negative to positive". Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Finextra
13-06-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Offshore bank Aston granted banking license
Guernsey's last locally-based bank ceased trading in 1996, making Bank Aston the first to be licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) for almost thirty years. 0 This content has been selected, created and edited by the Finextra editorial team based upon its relevance and interest to our community. Bank Aston will serve offshore trustees, investment funds and family offices across the Channel Islands financial services industry and has been established to offer a more efficient banking process. Having obtained its licence, Bank Aston will move into the build phase of the bank with the intention of launching in 2026. It will then begin taking on accepting deposits from institutional clients while rolling out its full product offer. To support the launch, Bank Aston has appointed Kevin Brown as chairman, a senior leader with experience at Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of England and FCA; and Paul Gorman as CEO, who spent 20 years in senior management roles in corporate and investment banking, including at Barclays and Santander. James Bennett, Bank Aston co-founder, explains that: "Banking is becoming a huge problem for offshore institutions. They face increasingly slow approvals, poor customer services and eye-watering fees with decisions being taken remotely by legacy banks whose risk appetite is steadily declining. This has resulted in more and more institutions being forced onshore which increases inefficiency, adds unnecessary risk and takes revenue away from the islands." Guernsey resident, Jay Goss, co-founder, Bank Aston, says: "Few people realise the seriousness of the situation. The difficulties with onboarding and running accounts is starting to impact the whole industry. But there is an opportunity as well. We see Bank Aston as a commitment to Guernsey's future and to ensuring the island remains relevant, resilient and ambitious on the global financial map." Kevin Brown, Bank Aston chairman, adds: "I don't think you can over-emphasise how important it is to the offshore financial community to have their own banking champion. We think Bank Aston has the potential to transform the entire offshore financial system."
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New offshore bank to launch in Guernsey
A Guernsey-based bank has received authorisation from finance industry officials to launch a new offshore said after getting a banking licence from the Guernsey Financial Services Commission that it expected to begin taking deposits in the second quarter of finance sector remains Guernsey's largest sector of employment activity and earnings, according to the States of Guernsey, add about £1.2bn to the economy, equating to 44% of the island's economic co-founder Jay Goss said the bank was a "commitment to ensuring the island remains relevant, resilient and ambitious on the global financial map". Aston Bank co-founder James Bennett said banking was "becoming a huge problem for offshore institutions"."We're building a bank that's faster, simpler, and more aligned with the needs of the offshore market," he leadership team includes chairman Kevin Brown, a veteran of the Bank of England and Royal Bank of Scotland; and chief executive Paul Gorman, formerly of Santander and Barclays, said Aston Bank.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bank Aston to be first locally licensed Guernsey bank in 30 years
Bank Aston has secured a banking licence from the Guernsey regulator that will make it the first locally licensed bank in the jurisdiction within 30 years. Bank Aston positions itself as a specialist provider for offshore trustees, investment funds, and family offices, which are key sectors in the Channel Islands' financial services industry. The firm is hoping to reinvigorate the offshore sector, which has £800bn in assets under management and £250bn in bank deposits in the Channel Islands alone. Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) has granted it 'Licensed with Conditions,' which is subject to conditions during Bank Aston's launch phase. The bank will begin accepting institutional deposits and roll out its complete range of services once fully licensed. Guernsey's last locally-based bank ceased trading in 1996. James Bennett, co-founder of Bank Aston, said: 'Banking is becoming a huge problem for offshore institutions. 'They face increasingly slow approvals, poor customer services and eye-watering fees with decisions being taken remotely by legacy banks whose risk appetite is steadily declining.' Bank Aston said it would streamline the onboarding and service delivery process through leveraging advanced technology. The firm added its deep knowledge of the offshore market would allow it to service consumers 'more quickly and competitively than is currently the case'. Brown has 40 years' experience including stints at the Financial Conduct Authority, Payment Systems Regulator and Bank of England. He is also a board member and founding investor of fintechs OneiD and Form3. Co-founder Jay Goss said: 'Few people realise the seriousness of the situation. The difficulties with onboarding and running accounts is starting to impact the whole industry. 'But there is an opportunity as well. We see Bank Aston as a commitment to Guernsey's future and to ensuring the island remains relevant, resilient and ambitious on the global financial map.'
