Not-for-profit to become more ‘gnarly’ than ever before

In 2025, Gnarly Neighbours is set to offer all new ways to encourage creativity within the community.

From hosting galleries and silent auctions, not only to raise funds but also to let locals showcase their art, to offering workshops for both kids and adults.

Jayden said he hoped Gnarly Neighbours would become “a space that people can come and teach and learn from other people”.

“Bringing everyone’s ideas to life would be really cool,” Jayden said.

Founder of Red Dirt Robotics Jameson Harvey will also be a new addition to Gnarly Neighbours in 2025, offering STEM-based workshops, both at Gnarly Neighbours and at schools all around regional Victoria.

Gnarly Neighbours currently operates within seven council areas in Victoria and the team has reached out to every council in the region in order to run programs in other areas.

Jayden said they were currently in the process of acquiring another van so they could run Skate Safaris in other areas for kids with accessibility needs who may not be able to visit other towns.

“We can reward kids for showing up and doing the program by taking them to other towns and getting out of Seymour to see other skate parks,” Jayden said.

Gnarly Neighbours became a registered charity during August of 2021 and has since turned into a well-visited spot in Seymour for locals to grab a coffee, play some games, and express themselves in ways they may never have thought possible.

“We give a way of building confidence, social incursion, inspiring creativity and give a sense of belonging and community,” Jayden said.

Having already received national recognition, with Jayden featuring as one of ABC’s Trailblazers as well as on Channel 10’s The Project, Jayden plans on eventually taking Gnarly Neighbours Australia-wide.

“At the moment, we’re just getting structured so we can be doing the work here and setting up the right stepping stones to take the Neighbourhood and Gnarly Neighbours to other disadvantaged areas,” Jayden said.

“We’ve got a few exciting things in the works, some big talks going on and some big support.

“We can now use the Gnarly Neighbours that we have in Seymour, the Seymour chapter, as a pilot to take it all around Australia.”

Last year, Jayden was recognised for his fantastic work with youths in the community and across regional Victoria by receiving a nomination for the 2024 Young Australian of the Year Award.

Jayden’s passion for Gnarly Neighbours is evident in conversation, with the founding of the not-for-profit influenced by Jayden’s own experience growing up in Seymour.

“I lived on the other end of Seymour and I got to see what can be easy to not see, because Seymour is such a beautiful place,” Jayden said.

“I’m so passionate because I was almost a statistic and now that I’m on the other side of it, I want to give all of our young people the opportunity that I wasn’t given and help to prevent that cycle of them falling through the cracks.”

The success of Gnarly Neighbours lies in community generosity.

The organisation is able to flourish with sales from its coffee shop, merch store and printing business Gnarly Print Co.

The community is also able to help Gnarly Neighbours reach their future goals by signing up to their relaunching membership and affiliate programs.

This year, Deakin University is set to conduct a study on Gnarly Neighbours to assess all of the changes they are making to help inspire confidence for kids.

This will be a way to see all of the work that Jayden and the Gnarly Neighbours team have done for the community from the outset.

To keep up to date on all future Gnarly Neighbours news and events, head to the Gnarly Neighbours Facebook page, and for further information, visit their website at gnarlyneighbours.com.au