I use freeserve, you can pick the disc up at PC World or Dixons, both of which are big chain stores here, you can have various packages, but he might well have pay-as-you-go.
They also install Freeserve with the bundle when you buy one of their computers. They're competitive, but not the cheapest to buy a PC from, but, in his case, give the reassurance of being able to go into the store, or phone a help line for advice.
If he sources a computer elsewhere, I got a Freeserve disc in the post this week, I've put it aside, so that I can snail mail it to him, for you, if the need arises.