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National Federation of the Blind of the UK is a national membership organisation of blind and partially sighted people working and campaigning on behalf of others in the UK with similar difficulties.

 

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During its long history of almost 80 years, the Federation has had many successes – please refer to the link pasts campaigns for a full list.

Some of the current issues we are campaigning on include:

The long-standing lack of a national framework of rehabilitation services for people diagnosed with serious sight loss. This has never been made available universally at the point of need. Instead, we have a ‘postcode lottery’, in which the quality and extent of rehabilitation varies according to where you live.

Pavements are for People: To allow blind and partially sighted people to walk along the pavement safely, the pavements need to be clear from obstructions. Including shop displays, advertising boards, street signs, vehicles parked on pavements and cyclists cycling (including E-Cycles) on pavements.

The Built Environment: This includes equal access to and safe freedom of movement within the built environment. Shared Spaces: Shared spaces are town streets where kerbs, crossings and safe walking routes have been partially or completely removed, requiring pedestrians to share the roadway with moving vehicles and to negotiate their right-of-way with drivers by sight. Blind and certain other vulnerable people cannot do this and are therefore effectively excluded from these streets, which they may have safely walked for many years.

The problem of accessing the nonsense of “floating bus stops”, where pedestrians have to negotiate a cycle lane to get to the platform or bus boarder to get onto the bus and in reverse step off the bus onto a narrow bus boarder next to a cycle lane, which is highly dangerous and a situation not fit for purpose. These really are totally inaccessible!

Increasing problem of the introduction of touch screen to make payments! Our full list of campaigns can be found here.

How you could help us!

You could help us by either joining us or financially supporting us. Membership is open to blind, deaf-blind, partially sighted people and those whose sight loss is part of multi disability. We also welcome sighted volunteers interested in helping with our work. –

Annual sight impaired membership £20
Associate membership £10
Affiliate membership (open to organisations and companies) £40

These rates are effective from 1 January 2026

The Federation does not receive any statutory funding or grant money from Government and relies totally on the generosity and goodwill of its members and supporters to deliver its important and much needed work. Could you make either a one off or regular financial donation to support us? See link how to donate.

No matter how small a donation you make, every penny will be gratefully received and used to improve the overall quality and welfare of daily life of blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted people.

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