'Real Change not Short Change' campaign milestones

November 2006 : Carers UK launches a major investigation into the impact of caring on carers' finances. We ask carers to take part in research about their incomes. Over 3000 carers respond.

December 2006 : Carers Rights Day highlights how many carers do not claim the benefits available to them.

February 2007 : Gordon Brown visits the home of Carers UK member Jill Pay and announces a new National Strategy for Carers. Carers UK lobby for the new Strategy to include income issues, as a previous National Strategy in 1999 did not address financial issues at all.

May 2007 : The 'Real Change not Short Change' campaign is launched. The campaign sets out carers' views that the present Carer's Allowance is an insult, that carers benefits are outdated and calls for a complete overhaul of carers' benefits.

May 2007 : Results of our carer research are published in a report called 'Real change not short change : time to deliver for carers'. It shows clear evidence that three-quarters of people are left worse off as a result of caring.

June 2007 : Government confirms that income for carers will be a key issue for the new National Strategy for Carers and launches a series of consultation events to talk to carers. Gordon Brown becomes the new UK Prime Minister.

July 2007 : Carers UK launch a 'Dear Mr Brown' postcard allowing carers to send their own message to the new Prime Minister. Over 60,000 postcards are circulated across the UK via local carers centres and disability groups. Many  carers organisations send them through their newsletters. Others complete the online version at www.carersuk.org

August 2007 : Carers UK announces will hold a National Summit for Carers so carers and ministers can discuss the details of what carers want.

September 2007 : Carers UK publishes new reserach that shows the value of carers contribution is a staggering £87 billion a year. Gordon Brown vists the Carers UK stand at the Labour Party Conference and is shown a copy of the 'Short Changed' campaign postcard

October 2007 : Closing date for return of the postcards. 8,300 carers return postcards and email messages, the largest response ever received to any carer campaign.

November 2007 : A delegation of carers deliver the postcards to 10 Downing Street. They carry a campaign banner highlighting the poor return carers get on the £87 billion they contribute.

November 2007 : Ministers Ivan Lewis and Anne Macguire attend the National Carers Summit to face questions from carers about the low level of benefits. The Prime Minister sends a message to the Summit.