When Jayden Sheridan was growing up in Seymour, the skate park was his haven.
At the time, he said there weren’t many positive role models at the park, and he went down the wrong path.
However, at 17 years old, he found out he would be a father and vowed that his son wouldn’t have the same upbringing as him.
“I moved away to Melbourne and chase dreams up there,” Jayden said.
“When he started school, I moved back here.
“I wanted to be very present when he was at school.”
Despite his difficult past, Jayden remained positive and started Gnarly Neighbours.
“I started taking some boards down to the skate park and teaching kids, offering to help them learn to skate.
“I was just doing that once a week.”
As time went on, more kids came to learn from Jayden, and the community raised money to help him get new boards, pads, and helmets.
In 2023, Jayden, now known as “skateboard dude”, is one of four finalists for the 2024 Victorian Young Australian of the Year.
Jayden said he doesn’t need labels, but for Gnarly Neighbours, the nomination can bring amazing things to it.
“I think it just comes down to the fact skateboarding is a catalyst to be able to do great things and give kids opportunities,” he said.
He said he knows that kids can drift from one hobby to another, so Gnarly Neighbours offers things other than learning how to skate.
“We still have all the creative workshops that they can be involved in,” he said.
“I want kids to have an endless amount of opportunities.”
Even though skateboarding was an unconventional sport, Jayden said it gives everyone life lessons.
“It gives us resilience, breaking socio-economic barriers or walls that people think are up,” he said.
“It gives everyone a fair go at breaking the stigma.”
For Jayden, his biggest goal was to leave a legacy.
“That legacy is to inspire others to believe in themselves and do what makes them happy no matter how crazy it seems,” he said.
“I think the crazy ones are the ones that pave the way and set standards for what can be done.”
Over the years, Gnarly Neighbours has achieved great camaraderie with the community, but this year, it is now officially registered as a Public Benevolent Institution.
“That means that’s the subtype of our charity now,” Jayden said.
“We’re here for the greater good of the distressed and disadvantaged.
“It just means we can get that government funding we need to further benefit the community,” he said
Those who wish to take part in Gnarly Neighbours’ charity can get deductible gift recipients to donate and use it as tax offset while supporting their cause.
Find out more on Facebook @Gnarly Neighbours.