Hi everyone! I'm new here and looking for some advice for a male friend if possible.
He is struggling with certain aspects and doesn't have many people around him to give advice for the situation.
He split up from his partner last year when their baby was 5 months old (the relationship was not healthy for either of them but it was mainly his decision). It didn't end amicably and the relationship between himself and his ex partner is extremely fractured with communication of any sort only going through his parents - this is the mother's decision not his.
Both parents are young and both in apprenticeships so on a lower wage. He pays full CM on time each month but the issue in question are nursery fees.
The child goes to nursery 4 days a week currently - this is part funded by UC from the mother's side as she is listed as the bill payer being a single parent with the remaining to be paid by the dad (this wasn't originally the plan as it was to be split but as communication has soured this is now the outcome).
The dad cannot afford to pay £650 nursery fees aswell as £250 CM a month on his current wage but has suggested that he take a full day off of work each week to look after the child to reduce nursery fees and knock his payment down to around £400 a month plus the CM aswell as getting to spend more time with his child. He currently sees his child 2 evenings a week and one full day at the weekend. He lives at home still and his parents have stated they do not want a child sleeping over there every week unfortunately whereas the mother has been provided with a house understandably.
Going back to the issue, the mother is refusing for him to knock down nursery to 3 days as she says she doesn't want to rely on him and is threatening court action for the £600+ a month he can't afford.
If there is any advice that anyone has that I can pass onto him, he would be eternally grateful and thank you so much in advance!