"...the additional stress and embarrassment to ask a second time"

When reading through the returned questionnaires, it was clear that it was mainly agency structures that were being used to refer service users to food banks. Health visitors and GPs were  mentioned. I also discovered that the Department of Work and Pensions bans Jobcentre staff from referring people to food banks. They have to signpost people to charities who  formally refer them instead. Often people who have plucked up the courage to ask for help will not approach charities because of the additional stress and embarrassment to ask a second time. I was speaking to a lady who has been in  this situation and said she felt thoroughly ashamed to ask a second time.