Jim Rutherford, director of Youth Solutions, has been involved in Youth Work & Community Development in Northern Ireland for the past twenty years.

Having worked as a Street outreach worker, schools worker, Youth Centre Leader-in –Charge, Rural Housing Estates Project Officer, Community Drugs Awareness Officer, Community Development Officer, and latterly working with a variety of programmes helping to get young people into employment, self employment, education or training, he has a wide knowledge of issues that face young people growing up in Northern Ireland.

Particularly involved in single identity and cross community contact programmes, group work and counselling, he has a range of skills across the youth work spectrum.

From his early involvement in youth work with Belfast Youth for Christ until his most recent position of Head of Programmes with The Prince’s Trust Northern Ireland, Jim has delivered programmes with innovation and passion, always wanting to give the best opportunity to the young participant to develop and learn.