Only 11% of professional people would turn to a charity for help in times of financial need, a survey indicates.

The Elizabeth Finn Charitable Trust found most people would first turn to their families for assistance.

After that, the next most popular choice was "muddling through on our own".

Muddling through

Turning to the state was only the third most popular way out, and asking for help from charities came bottom of the list.

Now the organisation - set up in 1897 to help "distressed gentlefolk" - wants "professional and similar" people to consider asking it for help.

It says a "stiff upper lip syndrome" is responsible for people's reluctance to get help outside of the home.

Jonathan Welfare, chief executive of the trust, said: "Our research shows that for many British people, pride comes most after a fall, with 82% believing they should not expect financial help from others if they get into difficulty.

"For over 100 years we have been providing support and care for professional people and their families who, either through illness, disability or misfortune are in real need of extra help.

"Our research highlights the need to create a wider understanding that everyone - and that includes professional people - may at some time need help if things go wrong.

"Certainly professional people and their families who are suffering financial difficulty should not feel there is any stigma attached to approaching organisations like the Elizabeth Finn Trust."

The charity says it does not just help people traditionally defined as professionals, and suggests farmers may top the list of people who need their assistance most.

Gentle what?

Despite general reluctance to approach a charity, the trust helped more people than ever before, and saw a 15% increase in the cases on its books.

It has also recently changed its name from the Distressed Gentlefolk's Aid Association, after further research showed that many people did not understand the meaning of the word "gentlefolk".

Mr Welfare said: "In modern Britain the word 'gentlefolk' is not a part of our everyday vocabulary and many people are confused about its meaning.

"This confusion makes it more difficult for us to attract the next generation of supporters and volunteers."