A REDDITCH woman recently held a belly dance 'hafla' to raise money for a good case.

Emma Wheate-Price, who teaches belly dancing, holds two haflas a year to raise cash for charity, and this time it was held in aid of Touchstones.

This charity is run by Vicki Quarton, who used to work for the charity Noah's Ark until it folded due to lack of funding, so she set up Touchstones, which helps children who have had a bereavement, such as the loss of a parent.

She goes into schools and provides support sessions to them whilst also arranging activity days where the children get to meet and talk with other children with similar experiences.

The recent halfa took place on May 31 at Bridley Moor & Batchley Social Club. The troupes that Ms Wheate-Price teaches in Redditch performed their choreographed dance along with other local belly dance troupes. There was also a shared buffet, a raffle and even a male belly dance competition.

A great total of £800 was raised.

Miss Wheate-Price said: "I raise money for different charities at each hafla, and over the years we have raised in excess of £7,700 for a wide variety of national and local charities."

To find out about belly dancing sessions, or when the next charity hafla is, visit belly-jewels.co.uk.