This is a report of the first year's work of Carers Impact and describes first impressions of the national picture and progress in answering the question posed. The report includes: a brief description of the background to the Carers Impact programme and its work to date; a summary of the key messages from carers on the first Carers Impact sites and their feedback on how far their local areas 'have got there' in supporting them; and how sites are trying to achieve change and what appears to be helping and hindering them.