In this episode of No Straight Lines: Stories of the Unbreakable, I sit down with Paul Gwilym, Founder and CEO of Boomerang Cardiff — a community-led charity built on dignity, responsibility and practical action.
Paul’s leadership is shaped by lived experience. He has faced business failure, financial loss, homelessness and a moment of profound personal crisis that brought him to the very brink.
At his lowest point, overwhelmed by pressure and shame, Paul drove to the Severn Bridge intending to end his life.
What followed was not a quick fix, but a long and honest journey of recovery built around accountability, support and a complete shift in perspective — moving from fear and ego towards purpose and service.
That experience changed everything.
After experiencing homelessness himself, Paul began supporting people in his local community, initially funding and building the project independently.
What started as a response to homelessness evolved into Boomerang Cardiff — an organisation dedicated to tackling poverty in all its forms while treating people with dignity and respect.
Today, Boomerang Cardiff supports communities across the city through initiatives focused on homelessness prevention, poverty, in-work poverty — helping individuals and families who are employed but still struggling to make ends meet — community engagement, social isolation, and health and wellbeing.
Built alongside volunteers, many with lived experience themselves, the organisation remains grounded in reality and driven by people who understand the challenges first-hand.
Paul’s story is one of resilience, purpose, community and stepping forward when doing nothing simply wasn’t an option.
This is a powerful conversation about leadership, adversity, rebuilding from rock bottom and creating something meaningful that lasts.
Because success is never a straight line.
🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more stories ofresilience, leadership and remarkable journeys.
