A spokeswoman said a shortlist of replacements had been drawn up and interviews would take place shortly. In these circumstances we undertake some of the costs for them. It's not a blank cheque system, but we do try to make it easier."In the past, charity organisations have been saddled with certain stereotypes as to the demographic of their volunteers. But significant steps have been taken to alter this view, with Timebank, among others, launching several campaigns to encourage male volunteers and those from a variety of backgrounds.

As a result, volunteering is losing its reputation as territory of the twin-set and pearls brigade and is becoming firmly established as a life-enhancing activity which anyone can get involved in.Timebank: 0845 456 1668, .ukYear of the Volunteer: 0845 305 6979, i-to-i: 0870 333 2332, VSO: 020-8780 7200, .uk'I needed something to challenge me'Phil Bloomfield, of Banc PR, volunteered with the charity organisation Raleigh in the Sabah region of northern BorneoI'd been working for a travel PR company for six years and it had just become stale. He needs to concentrate more on Educashun, Educashun, Educashun.. The head of the beleaguered Child Support Agency (CSA) is still in his job three months after the Government suggested he had resigned, and no date has been fixed for his departure. It turned out to be by Bill Gates, head of Microsoft.It would not require an expert to draw conclusions from Mr Blair's yesterday. "Why did you do that to yourself Tony?" was one that must have been forming in most people's minds.As the media trooped out, Mr Blair suggested that the newspapers would hire graphologists to analyse his handwriting as they had after a recent summit.

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A page of squiggles from a notepad was thought to be doodles byMr Blair. "Experts" said it showed a mind clouded by indecision and lacking the basic qualities of leadership.

"Actually, it's almost embarrassingly simple."Dropping his Hs, and saying "you know" a lot, the Prime Minister began to sound and look like Hugh Grant playing the youngish PM in Love Actually. He told them to go out and enjoy the experience of talking to the ordinary people, but there was no mention of tuition fees, violent crime or Iraq - the questions that they will face on the doorstep, if Mr Blair's daytime television experience is anything to go by.His red pen got into a tangle again when he tried to write: Election is Choice - Labour vs Tory "This is far more difficult than it looks," he giggled. A lot of what you get out is what you put in though, and the placements work best for people who are self-starters and pro-active."Even if you're not a self-starter when it comes to finding a volunteer placement, help may be at hand. Who would be playing the Martine McCutcheon role after the chat? We would never know. The media were ejected before the candidates got round to the questions.