ok so long story, shorter version is this,
i have a very good friend who i have known for 5 years now, we get on wel etc etc etc, recently she has been a bit distant and not happy but i could not get out of her what was wrong, i have taken the softly softly approach, making more itme for her and letting her open up and not fircing, today she finally told me whats wrong.
she has a boyfriend who lives with her he is father to her 2nd child and they have been together on and off for 8 years. he has been unemplyed now for 7 months and is making no effort to find a job. She is a fulltime student doing a 2+2 course and is finishing her 2nd year now she also works 12 hours in evenings as a cleaner.
She is absolutely shattered. her bf isnt doing anything and she wants him to leave and has asked him but he gets violent and wont go but she is insistant she does not want to involve police etc.
financially she is earning about 500 pm wages plus she gets 500 per month student loan and gets £90 per week CTC and £33 a week CB and her bf gets £30 per week job seekers, she gets no council tax help or housing benefit and now has just £100 to last her till end of april. She is desparate.
I have said i will take her to citizens advice on monday because to me it souncd like she should be getting more help financially.........
How do i support this friend? she is scared she would not cope as a single parent but is getting nothing from this relationship but she feels she is stuck. I dont know how to help...or maybe its a case of i cant help her till she wants to help herself......
thanks if you have got this far and can offer any help!