Linda Bamford
National Convener, Ambassador, Commissioner, Equality Adviser
Community Action
Linda’s career background is mainly in NHS Scotland, initially as a psychiatric and general nurse before moving into paramedicine with the Scottish Ambulance Service. After 13 years as a frontline paramedic in Glasgow, Linda moved into management holding various senior management positions within the ambulance service. Her NHS career spanned over 34 years.
She is the recipient of two medals from Her Majesty The Queen. One for “Long Service and Good Conduct – Emergency Services”, the second for “Dedication to the NHS”.
Linda had to take early medical retirement after several surgeries for a spinal cord injury. She is now a wheelchair user and struggles with managing complications of Cauda Equine Syndrome and chronic pain.
She was previously the Chair of Spinal Injuries Scotland, an organisation she got involved with after her spinal cord injury and rehabilitation and remains one of their Ambassadors.
Linda is the current Convener for Disability Equality Scotland and was appointed by Scottish ministers as the Convener of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland in 2016. In 2019, she was also appointed as a Commissioner with the Poverty and Inequality Commission.
In 2021, Linda was a finalist for Scotswoman of the year, in recognition of the changes she has managed to achieve for disabled people in transport policies and accessible infrastructures.
Since her spinal cord injury, she has utilised learning opportunities with the Open University and through online learning organisations including MOOPs (Massive Online Open Pedagogy) to expand her knowledge and assist with her current roles.
In 2012, life dealt me a devastating blow, which left me struggling with becoming disabled overnight. My surgeries and rehabilitation left me in a very dark place. Somehow, I held onto my central belief of caring for and helping others and this has allowed me to focus my work post injury (and from my wheelchair) on helping others with issues close to my heart and that I am passionate about. Access, Inclusion and Equality for all. My life didn’t stop when I became disabled, it paused then took a different turn and that has allowed me to help others from my lived experience.”