She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1995 Birthday Honours "for services to Equal Opportunities and to Industrial Relations".

Blood joined the Transport and General Workers' Union very soon after starting at the mill and would go on to deal with health and safety issues, such as long working hours, as well as wages.

She remained at the mill until it closed in 1989 and during this time Blood became the shop steward and was elected to the regional committee of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

[9] Blood's political career began in the 1990s as she participated at a grassroots level in the Peace Process and helped set up Northern Ireland Women's Coalition in 1996 where she was chosen to be Campaign Manager for the party.

[10] In 1995, Blood was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire for her labour relations work.