One hundred years ago, 74 blind workers from Scotland and north east England marched from Leeds to London to meet the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George.

A further 60 blind workers from Ireland and the north west left Manchester, and 37 from the south west departed from Newport.

The aim of the ‘Blind March’ of April 1920 - a river of blind and partially-sighted people converging on London on foot - was to press the Prime Minister to introduce fairer rights for people with sight loss. “Social justice, not charity” demanded the placards.

The event, organised by the National League of the Blind, was the first disability movement of its kind and led to the Blind Person’s Act 1920, an early precursor to today’s Equality Act (2010).

Now, a century later, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is asking people to use their one exercise a day to remember this event and take their own steps for equality. Among those already committed to doing so this month is 24-year-old blogger Holly Tuke, who describes herself on her award-winning blog Life of a Blind Girl as a ‘Yorkshire lass ...and a lover of pop music, beauty, fashion, and all the usual girly stuff. “

Holly has a condition called Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), which means she can only see light and dark. Determined to mark the anniversary of the march, she has re-enacted the first steps via video. “I’m taking part in the Blind March 2020 as I’m passionate about raising awareness of sight loss,” she said. “To me, equality means equal access in every aspect of society. There have been many positive changes that have had a significant impact on blind and partially sighted people over the last 100 years, however we still have a long way to go. Over the next 100 years I’d like people to see our ability, not just our disability.”

Maqsood Sheikh, RNIB’s Regional Campaigns Officer for Yorkshire, has also been taking part in the virtual march.

“I want to help create a society where sight loss isn’t a barrier to living life to the full,” he said. “Only one in four people of working age with sight loss are employed in the UK, one in three children with vision impairment in schools are still not receiving the specialist support they need. We need clear streets, accessible transport and built environments to help us get around independently. In the current coronavirus pandemic, we need accessible information online and better access to supermarkets.”

Keith Valentine, Director of Development at RNIB, said: “Society has moved on leaps and bounds over the last 100 years. But, for all our progress, many of the issues that the National League of the Blind marched to London to change remain the same. Just like in 1920, blind and partially sighted people continue to face barriers finding and keeping employment, accessing education and getting appropriate Government support. There has been some progress, but it’s not good enough."

There had been many protest marches previously, but this was the first of its kind, with contingents across the UK and rallies along the route. The Jarrow March 16 years later was based on the Blind March model.