Under the slogan 'Leicestershire Carers are Worth it!' an intrepid group of carers from across the county attended a Carers Protest Rally in Westminster on 3rd March 2010. The aim of the rally was to bring to the attention of MPs, especially those from Leicestershire and Rutland, the poverty trap that Carers can find themselves in. The group joined others from across the country in Trafalgar Square. To the rallying cry of 'What do we want? Recognition!'....' When do we want it? NOW!' the protesters proceeded en masse, first to 10 Downing Street. A petition calling on the government to increase the level of Carers Allowance and to disregard it in relation to any other entitlements was handed in by a small representative group headed by the rally sponsor David Burrow MP. The protestors then moved on to the Houses of Parliament, where after the rigorous procedures to get into the building, a meeting was held in Committee Room 14, where a number of MPs, listened to the articulate views of carers as they called for action to relieve the financial hardships faced by Carers. One of the Leicestershire group, Sheila Jackson, from Hinckley, spoke eloquently about the pressures, financial and emotional of caring. She was applauded by the audience. During the lobby, representatives from the Leicestershire Carers had the opportunity to speak to Keith Vaz MP (Leicester East), David Tredinnick MP (Bosworth), Sir Peter Soulsby MP (Leicester South) and Alan Duncan MP (Melton and Rutland). The other MPs were sent a briefing sheet asking them to take an enlightened interest in Carers issues and the work of CLASP. As a whole the group felt it was important to attend the day and to be heard. If you do not speak up no-one will ever hear you!