The Mass Observation Archive Annual Report 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023 Report Number 43 www.massobs.org.uk moa@sussex.ac.uk 




**Trustees of the Mass Observation Archive** 

**John Brewer Simon Garfield Jane Harvell Kitty Inglis Michelle Johansen Claire Langhamer Lucy Noakes Ben Highmore** 

## **Public Benefit Statement** 

The Archive is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (registered charity number: 1179673) in the care of the University of Sussex as part of the University’s Special Collections. The Archive seeks to benefit the wider community by providing the public with the opportunity to gain knowledge of everyday life in 20[th] and 21[st] Century Britain through access to the original Mass Observation social research organisation (1937 to early 1950s), and newer material collected continuously since 1981. 

The Archive proactively engages in educational outreach with schools, Further and Higher Education institutions and the local and national community. This outreach provides the opportunity for intergenerational and interregional learning. 

The Archive also provides the opportunity for people all over the UK to participate in the recording of their everyday lives, either through participation in the national Mass Observation Project and other related projects and partnerships or through the donation of their personal papers and diaries to a publicly accessible archive. 

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## **Contents** 

|**Contents**|**Contents**|
|---|---|
|Public Beneft Statement...............................................................................................2||
|1.|Access.....................................................................................................................4|
|2.|Engagement...........................................................................................................4|
|3.|The 85thAnniversary of Mass Observaton............................................................5|
|4.|Projects and partnerships......................................................................................6|
|5.|The 12thMay diary project.....................................................................................7|
|6.|The Trustees...........................................................................................................8|
|7.|Staf changes..........................................................................................................8|
|8.|Volunteers and placement students......................................................................8|
|9.|The Mass Observaton Project...............................................................................9|
|10.|Friends of the Mass Observaton Archive...........................................................9|
|11.|Collectons.........................................................................................................10|
|12.|Publicatons.......................................................................................................11|
|13.|Events, talks and conferences...........................................................................12|
|13.|Media atenton......................................................................................................13|
|Appendix 1...................................................................................................................15||



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## **1. Access** 

## Research visits 

118 individuals visited the Mass Observation Archive and made 257 orders for material (see fig.1 and fig.2 in the appendix). 

## Group sessions 

The Mass Observation Archive hosted 52 group visits (appendix fig.3). 289 people participated in these sessions. A list of groups who visited during 2022-2023 is available in Appendix fig.4. The Mass Observation team delivered these sessions online and in person. 

## Online Access 

Researchers continued to be able to access parts of the Archive through the Adam Matthew products, Mass Observation Online and Mass Observation Project Online. The publishers have reported that the Mass Observation Online resource was accessed 28,391 times and the Mass Observation Project resource was accessed 41,421 times. See Section.4, Appendix fig. 5. 

## **2. Engagement** 

The Education and Outreach offer is now broadly covered by the term engagement. We continued to offer opportunities to engage with the Archive both online and in person at The Keep. 

Teaching and learning sessions have included: Bader International School, and University of Sussex students studying, History, English, Social Work, Art History and Education. Careers talks and visits took place for students from Varndean College and BHASVIC at The Keep. Community visits have included; Fresh Start Portslade, Growing Old Disgracefully, Seaford, Horsham U3A and talks have been given to the RH7 Group and the Southwick Society. 

The Engagement Manager also delivered outreach workshops in HMP Lewes for Penned Up Festival and co-hosted a public event at All Saints Centre in Lewes showcasing the creative writing of prisoners inspired by the archive materials. A workshop at HMP Lewes was also held for 12[th] May diary day. 

Resources are available on the Mass Observation Archive website for schools and community groups to engage with the collections and recorded talks are available on the MO YouTube channel providing introductions to the Archive. 

The Engagement Manager designed and delivered the MO85 festival programme which included a diverse range of events and activities and hosted student and work experience placements throughout the year. 

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Support continued for the public engagement at The Keep with the Engagement Manager contributing to the Public Engagement Group and supporting events such as The Keep’s Open Morning on 16[th] September 2023 for Heritage Open Days. 

## **3. The 85[th] Anniversary of Mass Observation** 

Mass Observation celebrated 85 years of the Mass Observation movement. To mark this milestone, the Archive launched a festival programme of events and activities exploring the different themes MO has touched upon throughout its history. The MO85 programme has aimed to create an inclusive festival, which celebrates the essence of Mass Observation. The programme ran from March 2022 to August 2023. 

As part of these celebrations, the Archive hosted an academic seminar series, alongside, talks, workshops, exhibitions, and online engagement activities. 

In summary, the programme included the following activities with statistics taken of online views (correct as of August 2023). 

- Talks: 7 talks inspired by the archive, 82 people attended. 765 views on You Tube 

- Seminar series: 11 seminars delivered online, 272 people, 713 views on You Tube 

- Workshops & events: 13 workshops & events, 216 people attended. 

- Coronation Project: 223 accounts received of observations, opinions and reflections 

- 12[th] May day-diary event: 267 diaries received. 

- Social media invites: 100’s posts, reels, stories. Engagement increased across all platforms 

- Audience: 570 in total for MO85 events 

- Online You Tube views: 1478 

The programme also included recorded talks to watch and listen to via MO’s YouTube channel and other opportunities to take part were framed as invitations to join in various activities via social media. 

Events were added each month to the Mass Observation website. htp://www.massobs.org.uk/85. Social media engagement has taken place via Twitter (@MassObsArchive and Instagram (massobsarchive). We have used this opportunity to develop our engagement via these channels as well as creating content for the Mass Observation YouTube channel. 

## Feedback 

"It was magic. I haven't had so much fun in years. I really loved  being creative and being with other people. The girls were fantastic." 

82 year-old attendee of 1940's Chic event 

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"This is the best thing I have done in prison. It has reminded me of  who I used to be before the drugs and violence. I want to go back to my cell and continue writing. This is who I am." Roman, HMP Lewes, 

## Penned Up workshop 

## YouTube videos 

- Mass Observation team in-conversation about their roles and favourite collections 

- Fiona Courage in conversation with Dorothy Sheridan 

- Kirsty Pattrick speaking about her research on Nature and Wellbeing 

- Mass Observation team in-conversation about 12[th] May day-diary project 

- Suzanne Rose speaking about Everyday Kindness 

- MO Seminar series recordings 

- Mass Observation playlists include; 

   - Mass Observing Royalty 

   - Mental Health and Well Being 

   - Ethics, Observations & Archives 

   - Mass Observation and the everyday 

## Talks 

- MO Past & Present Dr Fiona Courage & Prof Dorothy Sheridan 

- MO Nature & Wellbeing Kirsty Pattrick 

- MO & 12[th] May MO Team 

- MO & Royalty Dr Fiona Courage 

- MO & Menopause Dr Jill Kirby 

- MO & Everyday Kindness Suzanne Rose 

- Class of 37 Prof Claire Langhamer and Prof Hester Barron 

## Webinar series 

## Mass Observers: responding to the difficult questions, 9[th] November 2022 

- The ethics of discomfort: Soliciting Mass Observation Project writing on sensitive topics. Renelle McGlacken, University of Nottingham 

- Narratives of ‘nothing’: avoidance, resistance, and refusal. Nina Lockwood and Susie Scott, University of Sussex 

## Mass Observing health and wellbeing, 25[th] January 2023 

- More vulnerable but happier? An exploration of older people’s wellbeing during the first lockdown. David Tross, Birkbeck, University of London 

- On the change: experiences of menopause in late twentieth century Britain. Jill Kirby, University of Sussex 

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- Leisure in Later Life. Tania Wiseman, Swansea University. 

## Gathering Qualitative data in times of crisis with Kantar Public, 15[th] March 2023 

Leading experts from the Mass Observation Archive and Kantar Public explored the methodologies, approaches, insights and applications from two of the most significant situations to impact our world in recent years: the COVID-19 global pandemic and the war in Ukraine and subsequent mass displacement of a nation. 

Kirsty Pattrick and Jessica Scantlebury from the Mass Observation Archive, shared their insights and learnings from the Mass Observation COVID-19 collection. 

Yves Fradier and Anne-Sarah Chekaf from Kantar Public, discussed the importance of establishing a longitudinal panel to capture the voices and evolving needs of Ukrainian nationals, displaced from their homes and now forced to establish new lives in their host countries across Europe. 

Mass Observing COVID-19 and linguistic analysis: tools for narrative data, 26[th] April 2023 

- ‘Delving into the Mass Observing COVID-19 Wellcome funded project’ Fiona Courage, Jessica Scantlebury, Kirsty Pattrick and Angela Bachini, Mass Observation Archive 

- ‘Conceptual variation in COVID Mass Observation diaries’ Justyna Robinson and Rhys Sandow, University of Sussex 

Mass Observing the Coronation, 2[nd] May 2023 

Fiona Courage (Mass Observation Archive) and Jen Purcell (Saint Michael's College) announced their new Mass Observation royal anthology for Bloomsbury Academic’s Mass Observation Critical Series. Together with Lucy Curzon (University of Alabama), they outlined plans for Mass Observation’s mobile investigations in and around London over coronation weekend. These investigations are patterned on those undertaken by Mass Observation in 1937 and 1953. 

Exploring the Archives: in conversation with Mass Observation and the Archive of Market and Social Research, 3[rd] May 2023 

- Mass Observation introduced by Jessica Scantlebury and Kirsty Pattrick, and AMSR by Phyllis Macfarlane. 

- Claire Langhamer, Director of the Institute of Historical Research. She is a social and cultural historian of modern Britain who specialises in the history of everyday life, especially the experiences of women and girls, and the history of feeling. She is a Trustee of the Mass Observation Archive. 

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- David Tross has taught courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level at Birkbeck for 10 years, and currently lectures on Birkbeck's BSc Community Development and Public Policy and BSc Social Science programmes. 

Mass Observers: ethics and responsibility, 24[th] May 2023 

- Disclosure and composure in the Mass Observation Project, 1981 – 2019. Andrew Burchell, University of Warwick 

- Ethical reflexivity, care and slippery data: lessons from working with the Mass Observation Archive. Corinne van Emmerik, Goldsmiths University of London 

## Navigating the Mass Observation Archive as a new researcher 28[th] June 2023 

A roundtable discussion, hosted by Kirsty Pattrick (Research Manager) and Suzanne Rose (Engagement Manager), with two postgraduate scholars who have used the Mass Observation Archive extensively in their own research. They shared their own varied ways of searching and using this material, and speak about some of their findings. 

- Jacinta Mallon (CHASE PhD researcher, University of Kent). Jacinta’s thesis examines home-loss in urban Britain during the Second World War, both as a result of the air raids and the British government’s own policy of requisition. 

- Khaleda Brophy-Harmer (ESRC PhD researcher, University of Southampton) Khaleda’s doctoral research explores the everyday ‘white self’ in England. 

Mass Observing the Everyday 20[th] September 2023 

- Heads, Hearts and Guts: The Emotional Politics of Brexit. Emily Robinson and Jonathan Moss, University of Sussex 

- Mass Observing everyday literacies: the mundane, profane and profound. Sam Duncan, UCL Institute of Education 

- Activist, Protestor, Onlooker: Discovering hidden protest stories. Pollyanna Ruiz, University of Sussex 

## **4. Projects and partnerships** 

## Mass Observation Critical Series 

The Mass Observation Critical Series is an interdisciplinary publication series published by Bloomsbury. The series aims to make Mass Observation’s rich primary sources accessible to a wide range of academics and students across multiple disciplines, as well as to the general reading public. Books in the series include reissues of original Mass-Observation publications, edited, and introduced by leading scholars in the field, and thematically oriented anthologies of Mass Observation material. The series also facilitates cutting-edge research by established and new 

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scholars using Mass Observation resources. Publications from this series include so far are Mass Observers Making Meaning: Religion, Spirituality and Atheism in Late 20th-Century Britain by James Hinton, The Biopolitics of Care in Second World War Britain by Kimberly Mair and Mass-Observation: Text, Context and Analysis of the Pioneering Pamphlet and Movement edited by Jennifer Purcell. A total of 366 copies from the series have been sold as of August 2023. 

## Mass Observing COVID-19 

The Archive began work on its 18-month Wellcome-funded project (for £178,353.00) in 2022. This project is opening-up the extensive narrative collection generated by Mass Observation during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this project, a discovery tool is being produced by GeoData (University of Southampton) allowing researchers to interrogate the collection. The tool will enable access to the material, allowing researchers to select relevant documents through searches of meta-data, keywords and open text. It will be possible to then export the data into research tools of their own choice for analysis. A multi-disciplinary Advisory Group and Project Team comprises those from the University of Sussex, University of Warwick, University of Chester, University of Southampton and the Institute of Historical Research. 

The project will conclude in early 2024 and be publicised for use across disciplines for learning, teaching and research. 

## Good Space 

Mass Observation joined the Good Space Heritage partnership in Jan 2023. This partnership of 11 heritage organisations is supported by DCMS Volunteering Futures and funded by Arts Council England. The project partnership aims to foster an innovative approach to growing volunteering opportunities, with a focus on championing the positive impact of volunteering on mental health and wellbeing. To support partner organisations’ volunteer recruitment, retention, training and delivery, improving diversity and breaking down barriers to engagement. Mass Observation has benefitted from Communities of Practice sessions, training and knowledge exchange with partner organisations. The pilot year for the project is due to end in March 2024. 

## National Centre for Research Methods 

The Research Manager is a member of a national Special Interest Group for Participatory and collaborative research methods. This group are organising the codelivery of a Critical Conversations webinar series due to take place in November 2023. 

## **5. The 12[th] May diary project & the Coronation Project** 

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The Mass Observation Archive repeated its annual call for day diaries written on the 12[th] May 2023. 267 diaries were submitted to the Archive. As with previous years, participants were asked to share the copyright of their diary with the Archive. 

The Archive used Instagram to encourage engagement in 12[th] May. As with previous years, invitations to take part were also sent out to schools, colleges, community groups and prisons. 

The Archive built on this national call for 12[th] May with a special request for accounts recording the King’s Coronation on 6[th] May 2023. Mass Observation has historically recorded most royal events and invitations to take part also went out to schools, colleges, community groups and prisons. Mass Observation hosted a Coronation event for students studying history at University of Sussex as well as an online talk on Observing the Coronation by Dr Fiona Courage and Jen Purcell. In total 223 submissions were received. 

## **6. The Trustees** 

Michelle Johansen left the Bishopsgate institute in and is now at the Society of Antiquaries. 

## **7. Staff changes** 

Angela Bachini is Junior Project Archivist for the Mass Observing COVID-19 project funded by the Wellcome Trust. Her role involves cataloguing material for the database resource, redacting identifiable content and working with the Research Manager to promote the project. 

Ellie Turner-Kilburn is the new Mass Observation Archive Officer. Her role supports the three strategic pillars of Mass Observation; Archive, Research and Engagement. She leads on publicity and comms, administers enquiries and, processes and catalogues newly generated material. She is currently developing Mass Observations new website. 

## **8. Volunteers and placement students** 

The Archive hosted several students and work experience placements during the year and is hugely appreciative of their hard work, enthusiasm and commitment. 

Martha Doyle, a final-year student from Brighton University continued to volunteer with the Archive. 

Sarah Mason began a placement with Mass Observation as part of her studies at Brighton University. Due to personal reasons, Sarah withdrew from her placement. 

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Olivia Ratcliffe from University of Brighton completed a short 30hr placement in spring 2023 

Six final-year English students, Jo Stanley, Lucia Widgery Compolo, Beth Brown, Amelie Bodnar Tunnell, Amy Dorling and Tayra Aylward from the University of Sussex completed a placement for the Championing Literacy module and designed and delivered writing workshops at The Keep in spring 2023 as part of the MO85 programme. 

Jacinta Mallon, PhD CHASE funded placement student worked with Mass Observation between January and April 2023. Her involved working on the COVID-19 collection; cataloguing key words, transcribing hand-written submissions, generating a glossary of terms and a pandemic timeline to support researchers. She contributed to and edited webinar events, and supported engagement activities. 

Four work-experience students joined us from May – July 2023. They were Tom Rose, Priory School, Lewes, Pippa Fisher, Patcham High School, Gus MacKenzie BHASVIC and Dice Barker, Oathall Community College. They worked on different projects and activities designed to introduce them to archives and heritage. 

Ella Beales continues to volunteer with the Archive regularly and oversaw the social media strand of the MO85 Anniversary programme. 

Monica Birchall retired from her volunteering role after 13 years with Mass Observation. 

## **9. The Mass Observation Project** 

The current panel size is over 700 and will be closed to new Observers from October 2023. 

A weed of the panel is planned for Spring 2024. This involves contacting any writers who have not responded in a year (to 3 Directives) to check whether they still wish to remain a Mass Observer. 

## Biographical Form 

The response rate continues to be good and these are available to researchers upon request. This captures additional biographical information on ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and religion. 

## Commissioners 

Advice and support documents were provided throughout the year for academic research funding applications and internal ethics processes. Institutions included Cambridge, University of East Anglia and Brighton for bids to ESRC, AHRC and institution’s internal funding. 

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## **10. Friends of the Mass Observation Archive** 

Income from the Friends of the Mass Observation Archive received £xxx this year, totalling £xxx. 

## **11. Collections** 

There have not been any acquisitions during this period. 

## **12.Publications** 

Walsh, K. (2023). Night-time bedroom soundscapes: embodied geographies of housing and home. Social & Cultural Geography, 1–20. htps://doi.org/10.1080/14649365.2023.2245800 

Clarke, N., & Barnett, C. (2023). Beyond compliance: Good citizenship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transactions - Institute of British Geographers (1965), 48(2), 395–407. htps://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12587 

Ehgartner, U., & Holmes, H. (2022). Changing understandings of waste reduction and avoidance in moralities of thrift: A comparison of Mass Observers’ narratives three decades apart. Geoforum, 137, 105–114. htps://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2022.10.014 

Seaton, A. V. (2022). Life and Family Travel in the Time of COVID-19: Pandemic in England 2020. Tourism and Hospitality (Basel), 3(4), 931–946. htps://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp3040060 

Harper, T. (2022). Edward Owens. The Family Firm: Monarchy, Mass Media and the British Public, 1932–53. New Historical Perspectives. London: University of London Press, 2019. Pp. 446. $65.00 (cloth). Journal of British Studies, 61(4), 1072-1073. doi:10.1017/jbr.2022.122 

Feminist Animal Studies: Theories, Practices, Politics, Erika Cudworth, Ruth E. McKie, Di Turgoose,  Taylor & Francis, 30 Dec 2022 

McGlacken, R. (2023). Negotiating the necessity of biomedical animal use through relations with vulnerability. BioSocieties. htps://doi.org/10.1057/s41292-022-00295-3 

Parken, O. (2023). The politics of press astrology in wartime Britain, 1939–42. Historical Research : The Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research, 96(272), 243–262. htps://doi.org/10.1093/hisres/htac029 

Büchs, M., Middlemiss, L., Mylan, J., & Stevens, L. (2023). Sustainable consumption by product substitution? An exploration of the appropriation of plant-based ‘mylk’ in everyday life. Consumption and Society, 2(1), 78–101. htps://doi.org/10.1332/PREN9891 

Coleman, R., & Lyon, D. (2023). Recalibrating Everyday Futures during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Futures Fissured, on Standby and Reset in Mass Observation Responses. Sociology (Oxford), 57(2), 421–437. htps://doi.org/10.1177/00380385231156651 

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Clarke, N., & Barnett, C. (2023). Archiving the COVID-19 pandemic in Mass Observation and Middletown. History of the Human Sciences, 36(2), 3–25. htps://doi.org/10.1177/09526951231152139 

Lyon, D., & Coleman, R. (2023). Rupture, repetition, and new rhythms for pandemic times: Mass Observation, everyday life, and COVID-19. History of the Human Sciences, 36(2), 26– 48. htps://doi.org/10.1177/09526951221133983 

Pollen, A. (2023). ‘There is nothing less spectacular than a pestilence’: Picturing the pandemic in Mass Observation’s COVID-19 collections. History of the Human Sciences, 36(2), 71–104. htps://doi.org/10.1177/09526951221134002 

Clarke, N., & Barnett, C. (2023). Seeing like an epidemiologist? Mobilising people against COVID-19. History of the Human Sciences, 36(2), 49–70. htps://doi.org/10.1177/09526951231170574 

Collier, P., & Connolly, J. J. (2023). Time shifts: Place, belonging, and future orientation in pandemic everyday life. History of the Human Sciences, 36(2), 105–127. htps://doi.org/10.1177/09526951221139377 

Kirby, J. (2022). The stress of work and work of stress in Britain in the late twentieth century. Contemporary British History, 36(4), 622–645. htps://doi.org/10.1080/13619462.2022.2081549 

Hurdley, R. (2023). Literary allusion in sociological analysis: Mass Observation mantelpiece reports as epic and drama. Qualitative Research : QR. htps://doi.org/10.1177/14687941231176944 

Observational comedy: Mass Observation and the wartime joke, 1939-45' in British Humour and the Second World War: ‘Keep Smiling Through’ ed. by Juliette Pattinson, Linsey Robb 

Lockwood, N., & Scott, S. (2023). Saying something with nothing: Refusal, avoidance and resistance in participant non-response. Methodological Innovations, 16(2), 215–225. htps://doi.org/10.1177/20597991231179390 

Field, C. (2023). Mass Observation, Religion, and the Second World War: When ‘Cooper’s Snoopers’ Caught the Spirit. In M. Snape & S. Bell (Eds.), British Christianity and the Second World War (Studies in Modern British Religious History, pp. 99-116). Boydell & Brewer. doi:10.1017/9781800108783.006 

van Emmerik, C. (2023). Ethical Reflexivity, Care, and Slippery Data: Lessons From Working With the Mass Observation Project. Sociological Research Online. htps://doi.org/10.1177/13607804231164486 

Blain, J., Stevens, D., Taylor, L., Kingston, P., & Watts, G. (2023). Views about Euthanasia and Dementia: Exploring Perceptions Utilising Evidence from the Mass Observation Archive. Healthcare (Basel), 11(18), 2552-. htps://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11182552 

BEYNON-JONES, S., GRABHAM, E., & HENDRIE, N. (2023). ‘The rules are all over the place’: Mass Observation, time, and law in the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Law and Society, 

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## 50(3), 369–391. htps://doi.org/10.1111/jols.12446 

Highmore, B. (2023). ‘The Observation by Everyone of Everyone’: The project of MassObservation in 1937. Mass-Observation: Text, Context and Analysis of the Pioneering Pamphlet and Movement, 7. 

Blain, J., Stevens, D., Taylor, L., Kingston, P., & Watts, G. (2023, September). Views about Euthanasia and Dementia: Exploring Perceptions Utilising Evidence from the Mass Observation Archive. In Healthcare (Vol. 11, No. 18, p. 2552). MDPI. 

Purcell, J. J., & Jones, B. (Eds.). (2023). Mass-Observation: Text, Context and Analysis of the Pioneering Pamphlet and Movement. Bloomsbury Publishing. 

Davies, L. L. (2022). Representing the Poor: Interwar Documentary Film, Mass Observation, and Victor Gollancz Ltd. Twentieth Century Literature, 68(1), 1-24. 

Goldsmith, R. (2023). Mass-Observation and Vernacular Politics at the 1945 General Election. Twentieth Century British History, hwad047. 

McGlacken, R. (2022). Constrained, contingent, and conflicted: Complicating acceptance of animal research through an analysis of writing from the UK Mass Observation Project. In Transforming food systems: ethics, innovation and responsibility (pp. 245-250). Wageningen Academic Publishers. 

## **13.Events, talks and conferences** 

Suzanne Rose 

ARA Conference Belfast, Mass Observing Communities, August 2023 

MO85, Mass Observing Kindness, Nov 2022 

## Kirsty Pattrick 

History and Archives in Practice, Institute of Historical Research, March 2023 

## Fiona Courage 

Public History in European Historical Perspectives, University of Luxembourg, September 2023 

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## Appendix 1 

## **Fig. 1 Number of visits made by individual researchers 2017-2023** 

|**Year**|**To MOA**|**% of all visits to Special**<br>**Collectons**|**% of all visits to The Keep**|
|---|---|---|---|
|2022-2023|118|20|7|
|2021-2022|70|46|9|
|2020-2021|42|77|8|
|2019-2020|226|49|9|
|2018-2019|317|51|10|
|2017-2018|287|43|10|



**Fig. 2 Number of documents issued from the MOA to researchers at The Keep 2017-2023** 

|**Year**|**Number of**<br>**documents**|
|---|---|
|2022-2023|257|
|2021-2022|436|
|2020-2021|342|
|2019-2020|430|
|2018-2019|882|
|2017-2018|1009|



## **Fig. 3 Group visits 2017-2023** 

|**Year**|**To MOA**|**Atendance**|
|---|---|---|
|2022-2023|53|1072|
|2021-22|51|846|
|2020-2021|30|561|
|2019-2020|42|456|
|2018-2019|83|1834|
|2017-2018|110|1505|



**Fig. 4 Group visits made to the MOA in 2022-2023** 

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|**Date**|**Name ofgroup / insttuton/organisaton**|**Inperson or online**|**Number**<br>**in group**|
|---|---|---|---|
|1/10/2022|Fresh Start Portslade|In-person|22|
|10/10/2022|Universityof Sussex,Geography,BA|In-person|15|
|19/10/2022|Mass ObservingMenopause|Hybrid|24|
|20/10/2022|Voices in the archives,English PG|In-person|14|
|31/10/2022|Universityof Sussex,History,PG|In-person|18|
|8/11/2022|Universityof Sussex,History,PG|Inperson|15|
|9/11/2022|Universityof Sussex,Geography,UG|Inperson|40|
|10/11/2022|Mass ObservingKindness|Online|9|
|14/11/2022|Universityof Sussex,Educaton,UG|In-person|14|
|09/11/2022|MO85 Seminar series - Mass Observers:<br>respondingto the difcultquestons|Online|14|
|15/11/2022|Universityof Sussex,History,PG|In-person|14|
|30/11/2022|Universityof Sussex,HistoryUG|In-person|14|
|1/12/2022|Universityof Sussex,History,PG|In-person|14|
|18/1/2023|Mass ObservingChristmas|In-person|32|
|20/1/2023|Bader Internatonal School|Inperson|10|
|25/01/2023|Mass Observing Health and Wellbeing<br>Webinar|Online|33|
|26/01/2023|Universityof Sussex,Social Work,BA|In-person|35|
|08/02/2023|Valenzines MO85 event|In-person|20|
|10/02/2023|CIRCY Becominga researcher|In-person|12|



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|10/02/2023|Seaford GrowingOld Disgracefully|In-person|6|
|---|---|---|---|
|14/02/2023|Universityof Sussex,Death & Dying|In-person|8|
|16/02/2023|Horsham U3A|In-person|30|
|21/02/2023|University of Sussex, English, BA<br>CelebratngLiteracy|In-person|20|
|24/02/2023|Universityof Sussex,Politcs,BA|Inperson|18|
|15/3/2023|University of Brighton, Visual Arts &<br>Culture|Inperson|25|
|21/3/2023|Varndean College|Inperson|20|
|22/3/2023|1940’s Chic,MO85 event|Inperson|25|
|29/3/2023|Insttute of Historical Research|Inperson|80|
|30/3/2023|NCRM Special Interest Group|Online|9|
|05/04/2023|MO Wants Your Story,HMP Lewes|In-person|14|
|18/04/2023|Made byTime,Penned Up|In-person|25|
|19/04/2023|Collectngin Crisis Kantar Public|Online|56|
|19/04/2023|MO Creatve WritngWorkshop|In-person|6|
|25/04/2023|University of Sussex, History Coronaton<br>Workshop|In-person|10|
|26/04/2023|Universityof Brighton Educaton|In-person|7|
|26/04/2023|Mass Observing COVID-19 and linguistc<br>analysis|Online|18|
|2/05/2023|MO Seminar Coronaton|Online|12|
|03/05/2023|AMSR Seminar|Online|40|
|10/05/2023|HMP Lewes|In-person|16|
|15/05/2023|RH7 HistoryGroup|In-person|20|
|17/05/2023|Universityof Sussex Library|In-person|4|
|17/05/2023|Class of 37 MO85 event|Hybrid|24|
|24/05/2023|MO Seminar Series Ethics|Online|20|
|5/06/2023|Universityof Sussex Academics|In-person|45|
|7/06/2023|Universityof Shefeld|Inperson|20|
|14/06/2023|Creatve WritngWorkshop|In-person|8|
|19/06/2023|Let’s Dance MO 85 event|Inperson|32|
|28/6/2023|MO Seminar series Post Graduate<br>Research|Online|14|
|6/07/2023<br>09/06/2023|BHASIVC<br>Doctoral School MO Methods|In-person<br>In-person|15<br>5|
|13/07/2023|Pleasure and Place MO85 event|In-person|10|
|15/07/2023|Fresh Start Portslade|Inperson|7|
|25/7/2023|Internatonal Summer School|Inperson|9|
|30/8/2023|ARA Conference Belfast|Inperson|30|



**Fig. 5 Access to Mass Observation Online 2018-2022** 

|**Year**|**Sessions**|**Number of sessions from members**<br>**of the University of Sussex**|**Number of sessions**<br>**made from The Keep**|
|---|---|---|---|
|2022-<br>2023|28,391|2,286|83|



18 



|2021-<br>2022|32,497|1,726|87|
|---|---|---|---|
|2020-<br>2021|25,372|1,202|32|
|2019-<br>2020|18,790|2,525|110|
|2018-<br>2019|27,018|2,048|288|
|2017-<br>2018|28,573|2,31<br>8|405|



## **Fig. 5 Access to Mass Observation Project Online 2020-2021** 

|**Year**<br>2022-2023<br>2021-2022<br>2020-2021<br>July –<br>September<br>2020|**All sessions**|**Number of sessions from**<br>**members of the University of**<br>**Sussex**|**Number of sessions**<br>**from The Keep**|
|---|---|---|---|
||41,421|449|3|
||636|556|0|
||1,141|368|1|
||10,672|22|0|



## **Fig.6 Directive themes 2020-2021** 

|**Date**<br>**Autumn**<br>**2022**<br>**(No 126)**<br>**Spring**<br>**2023 (No**<br>**127)**<br>**Summer**<br>**2023 (No**<br>**128)***|**Topic**|**Commissioner**|**Funding**|**Response**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Forgiveness|Owen Abbot,<br>University of<br>Cardif|£8,000<br>Leverhulme and<br>Internal|133|
||Ageism|Paul Kingston,<br>University of<br>Chester|£6,000<br>Internal|140|
||Current Events|In-house|N/A|123|
||Cost of Living and<br>Intergeneratonal<br>Relatonships|Jane Falkingham<br>University of<br>Southampton|£10,000 ESRC|189|
||Rituals and Magic||£4,000 BA|175|
||Coronaton|In-house|N/A|173|
||Consumerism and<br>digital technology|David Evans,<br>University of<br>Bristol|£10,000|183|
||Personal<br>Appearance|In-house|N/A|178|



*Responses to these Directives Directive are still arriving at the Archive. 

**Fig.7 Income from the Friends scheme (Reporting period: April 6 2018 – April 5 2021)** 

19 



|**Year**|**Number of Friends**|**Amount**<br>**raised**|
|---|---|---|
|2022 -<br>2023|-|-|
|2021-2022|10|£1154|
|2020-2021|11|£320|
|2019-2020|17|£480.90|
|2018-2019|21|£604.99|



**January 2024: This report was written by Kirsty Pattrick, Suzanne Rose, Jessica Scantlebury and Ellie Turner-Kilburn** 

20 



The Mass
Observation
Archive
Annual Report and Flnanclal Statements
for the year ended 30 September 2023
Registered Charity Number: 1179673
Company Number: CE014960

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
CONTENTS
Poge
Legal and administration details
Report of the Trustees
IndependÈnt Examiner's report
Statement of flnanclal actlvltles
Balance sheet
Notes to the financial statements
11>12

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
LEGALAND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS
LEGAL STATUS
The Ma55 Observation Archive is a
Re8lstered Charlty (Charity Registration No. 11796731 and a
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Company numberCE0149601
PRINCIPALOFFICE
Unlverslty of Sussex
The University Library
Falmer
Brlghton
BN19QL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chalr:
Ms Jane Harwell
Trustees:
Mr John Brewer
Mrslmon Garfleld
Ms Kitty In8lis
Dr Michelle Johansen
Professor Claire Langhamer
Professor Lucy Noakes
Professor Ben Highmore
Secretary:
Dr Flona Coura8e {non-Trusteel

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
LEGALANDADMINISTRATION DETAILS
Independent Examlner
VMRAnder50n BAIHonsl FCA DChA
Clark 8rownscombe
2 St. Andrews Place
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 IUP
Bankers
co.operative Bank
P.0. Box 101
l Balloon st￿et
Manchester
M604EP

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
Introduction
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their annual report and financial Statements for the year ended 30
September 2023.
The Mass Observation Archive 15 registered as a charlty Icharlty Reglstratlon No. 11796731. It Is governed by Its
rules which were first adopted on 28 Au8USt 2018. It should be noted that the charity is the successor charity to
Mass Observation Archive Icharity Registration No. 2702181. The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
(Company number 11796731
The financial stalements comply wlth current statutory requlrements, the Rule5 and Accounting and Reportin8 bv
Charitie5.' Statement of Recommended Practlce appllcable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance wlth
FRS 102.
Objectlves of the charlty
To advance education for the publlc benefit by operatlng and maintaining an archlve speclallsin8 In partlcular but
not exclusively in the modern soclal history of Great Britaln.
The role of the Trustees
The charity trustees shall manage the affalrs of the CIO and may for that purpose exerclse all the powers of the
CIO. It Is the duty of each charity trustee..
to exercise his or her powers and to perform hls or her functions In hls or her capaclty as a trustee of the
CIO in the way he or she decldes In good faith would be most likely to further the purpose5 of the CIO,. and
b. to exercise, in the performance of those functions, such care and Skill as is reasonable in the circumstances
The chair of Trustees is the Dlrector of Llbrary Setvices, Unlverslty of Sussex, an ex officio appointed by the
Unlverslty of Sussex In Ilne with the provisions of the CIO'S constitution. The Rlsk Register is the responslblllty of
the Trustees. They provide the material support necessary for the effectlve running of the CIO. The Trustees work
in accordance with the guldelines laid down by the Charlty Commlssion.
Management is the responslblllty of the Trustees and is delegated to the Ma$5 Observatlon Team In term5 of day-
to-day admlnistratlon. Under the Mass ObseNation Unlversity of Sussex Memorandum of Understandln8 Imay
2018} the University of Sussex takes responsibility for the line management of staff employed specifically to work
on the Mass ObseNation Archive.

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
REPORT OF THE TRusfEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30SEPTEMBER 2023
Trustee responsibilities
Flnanclal statement5
The Trustees are requlred to prepare annual financial statements, which provide a true and fair view of the
affaSrs of the tharlty as at the end of the financial year and of the Income and expenditure of the Charity for
the year.
In preparing the report5 the Trustees:
Select suitable accountin8 policies and apply them con515tentlv
Make judgements and estlmates that are reasonable and prudent
3. State whether the applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material
departures disclosed and explalned In the Financial Stotements, and
Prepare the Flnancial Statements on the ongoing concern basis unless it is Inapproprlate.
Publlc beneflt
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guldance In the Charity Commisslon's general 8uldan¢e
on public benefit when revSewing the charlty's objectlves.
Rlsk revlew
The Board of Trustees revlews the malor risks to whlch the ¢haritV 15 exposed on a regular basls and systems
and actions are implemented to mitigate those risk5. The Trustees believe that there is a satisfactory system
of internal controls and these are reviewed on a regular basis.
Flnanclal revlew
Total expendlture and income for the year on operational actlvltles were £157,235 and £292,464
respectlvely, resultlng In a surplus of £135,229. The Charit￿5 net movement in funds was a surplus of
£135,229.12022.' a surplus of £91,328).
The charity carried forwards unrestrlcte(i funds of £604,127.
Expenditure is focu55ed entirely on Staff salaries and commlssion paid to Curtis Brown in respect of the
royalties collected.
Income
The prlnclpal sources of income are royalties in respect of the archives and payments for the commissioning
of Directlves by researchers. This action 15 in line with the MOA Trust aim to support postgraduate and early
career research.
Reserves
It has been agreed it is appropriate forThe Mass Observation Archive to maintain strate8ic reseNes sufficlent
to support unavoidable operating costs for a period of up to 12 months. The strategic reserve must consist
of unrestricted funds.

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
Summary of main financial activities in relation to Objects of the CIO
Three Directives coverin8 ei8ht themes were issued during this financial year. Five of these themes were
commlssloned through researchels fundlng, totalling £24,C4)0.
Royalty income was boosted by sales of a newly released Adam Matthew Digital products, in particular Moss
Observotlon Projert Onllne.
By Order of the Board of Trustees
Jane Harvell (Chair}
QHsf
Date: 14th May 2024

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
ThE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
I report on the account5 for the year ended 30 September 2023, which are set out on page5 7 to 12.
Respeetlvo responslbllltles of Trustees and Examlner
The charlty's Trustees are responslble for the preparation of the accounts. The charitrfs Trustees conslder
that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charltles Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that
an independent examination is needed.
I report in respect of my examlnation of the Trustee's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act
and In carrylng out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directlons given by the Charity
Commission under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act.
Independent Examlner's statement
Slnce your charltVs gross Income exceeded £250,000 your examlner must be a member of a Ilsted body. I
can confirm that l am quallfled to undertake the examlnatlon because l am a reglstered member of the
Instltute of Chartered Accountants In England and Wales whlch Is one of the Ilsted bodies.
I have completed my examlnatlon. I conflrm that no material matters have come to my attentlon In
connection wlth the examlnatlon 8lving me cause to belleve that in any material respect:
111 accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by sectlon 130 of the Act,. or
12} the accounts do not accord with those records,. or
131 Ihe accounts do not comply wlth the applicable requlrements concerning the form and content of
accounts set out In the CharStles (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 21K)8 other than any requlrement
that the accounts give a 'true and fair view. which is not a matter consldered as part of an independent
examination.
I have no con¢ems and have Come across no other matters in connection with the examlnatlon to whlch
attentlon should be drawn in this report In order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be
reached.
VMR Anderson BA (Honsl FCA DChA
Chartered Accountant
Clark Brownscombe
2 St. Andrews Place
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 IUP
Date:
2£)LF

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
srATEMENT OF FINANCIALACTIVITIES FOR
THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
Unr•strlcted Re¥aluatlon
funds
reserve
Totsl
funds
Unrestricted Revaluatlo
fvnds
n resetwe
Total funds
2022-23
2022-23
2022-23
2021-22
2021-22
2021-22
INCOME
Income and endowfftents from
Royaltie5
Other income
- Sale5
247N25
247N25
168,443
168,443
25,601
25,￿1
45.300
45,3LYJ
Interest Income
18,202
18,202
loo
Oonations
1.236
1.236
1,142
1,142
Tot•1 Income and endowments
292864
292864
214.985
214,985
EXPENDITURE ON
Expendlture on charltable actlvltles
157.235
157,235
123,657
123,657
T￿81 e%pendltttre
157,235
157,235
123,657
123,657
Net Incomellexpendlturel on
operatlonal acllvltles
13S,229
135,229
91,328
91,328
OTHER RECOGNISEDGAINSAND
LOSSES
N•t m¢)vemeni In furtds
135,229
135,229
91,328
91,328
Total funds brou8ht forward
468,898
2,000,OLXI
2,468A98
377,570 1000,OC*J
2,377,570
Total fundsurrled forward
604.127
2,1)00.000
2.604.127
468,898
2,IX)O,OCXJ
2,468,898

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
STATEMENT OF FINANCIALAcfiviTIES FOR
THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
Unrestricted
Funds
2022123
Unrestricted
Funds
2021122
Expenditure on charitable activities
Commission charges and cost of goods 501d
Travel, trainlng, and Meetlngs
Postage and Statlonery
Salarles
12,255
2,047
465
14.750
574
531
139,246
105,500
82
Staff welfare
Computer &
Subscrlptlon
Accountancy
Bookkeeplng fees
Independent èxaminers fee
Repalrs and maintenance
406
123
514
750
990
If
157,235
123.657

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
NOTES TOTHE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR
THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
CHARITY NUMBER 1179673
2022123
2021122
Flxed Asset
Mass Observation Archive
2MO,001
2,Crf)O,001
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtor5 and accrued Income
Cash at bank and in hand
31,757
2,135
485 453
487,588
654A63
Credltors.. Amounts falllng due wSlhln one year
14•t Current Assels
604.126
468,897
Total A55ets le55 Current Llabllltles
2 604 127
2 468 898
Represented by:
Unrestrlcted funds
General fund
604.127
468,898
Revaluatlon Reserve
uiooo00
2,CQO,000
The Flnancial Statements were approved by the Trustees on
Jane Harvell Trustee

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
NOTESTO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR
THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
ACCOUNTING POUCIES
a. Aecountln
These financial statements have been prepared under the hlstorlcal cost convention, and in
accordance with applicable accounting standards. In addition they have been prepared in
accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice
applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102. The trust constitutes
public benefit entity a5 defined by FRS 102. The Trustees consider that there are no material
uncertalntles about the trust's ability to contlnue as a going concern. The accounts are prepa￿d In
sterling whlch is the functional currency of the Charity.
b. Fund Accountlng
The charity maintains various funds in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice
'Accountln8 and Reportin8 by Charltles FRS 102, These funds, which requlre separate disclosure,
are as follows:.
Unfestrf¢ted Funds. These are the general funds of the charity and are expendable at the discretion
of the Trustees in the furtherance of the charitable objectlves. The main sources of general funds
are from fees, royalties and income from bank deposlt57
Voluntary Income
Donatlons are recognised as Income when the donatlon Is recelved.
Legacies are recognisecl at the earliest point at which the amounts become certain.
d. Investment Income
Interest is accrued on a dally basis and is credlted on thls basls In the Income and expendlture
account.
e. Expendlture
Expendlture Is Included in the Statement of Flnanclal Actlvltles on an accrual basls, Incluslve of any
VAT whlch cannot be recovered.
The main category of expenditure is:
Expenditure orb charitable artivitie5, which are the costs of running the trust.
f. Ststement of Cash Flows
The charity has taken advantage of the provlsions in the SORP for Charltles applying FRS 102 Bulletin
I not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
g. Financial Instruments
The Charity has financial assets and financial liabilitie5 of a kind that qualify as basic financial
instruments. Basic financlal instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and
subsequently measured at amortised cost. Financial assets held at amortlse(I cost comprise cash at
bank and in hand, other debtors and prepayments. Financial liabilities held at amortised cost
comprise other creditors and accruals.
io

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
NOTES TOTHE FINANaAL STATEMENTS FOR
THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Ma55
obSe￿atIon
Archive
Total
As at I" October 2022
2,C(KJ,001
2,CMXI,WI
Addltions
A5at 30, September 2023
2.C(Q,001
2,(JXJ,￿l
Net Book Value
A5at 3tyh September 2022
2,CO),001
2,OCYJ,001
Asat 3tth September 2023
2,CO),001
2,OC#J,001
DEBTORS
2022123
2021122
Trade Debtors
Accrued Income
Vat
Trade credltors
7,OJO
10,450
14,307
36
350
1,749
CREDITORS
2022123
202ty22
Trade Creditors
Accruals
48.792
1,545
19)
18,501
TAXATION
The trust 15 Considered to Pa55 the te5tS Set out in Paragraph I Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore
it meets the definition of a charity for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charlty is potentially
exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains recelved within categories covered by Chapter
3 Part 11 Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the
extent that such income or gains are applied exclusivety to charitable purposes.
li

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
NOTES TOTHE FINANaAL STATEMENTS FOR
THE YEAR ENDEO 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
ANAIYSIS OF STAFF COSTS, TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES AND THE COST OF KEY
MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL.
2022123
2021122
Salarie5 and wages
Social security costs
Pen51on costs
113,796
10,442
82,113
6,795
No employees had employee beneflts in excess of £60,0￿{2022'. nlll. Penslon costs are wholly charged to
unrestricted funds.
No remuneration was pald to any of the trustees during the year by the Mass Observation Archive.
The key management personnel of the charity comprise the Trustees and the Director of the Archive. The
Dlrector and the Chair of Trustees are employed by the Unlverslty of Sussex and thelr roles Include some
responsibilities for the Mass ObseNation Archive.
12

The Mass
Observation
Archive
Annual Report and Flnanclal Statements
for the year ended 30 September 2023
Registered Charity Number: 1179673
Company Number: CE014960

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
CONTENTS
Poge
Legal and administration details
Report of the Trustees
IndependÈnt Examiner's report
Statement of flnanclal actlvltles
Balance sheet
Notes to the financial statements
11>12

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
LEGALAND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS
LEGAL STATUS
The Ma55 Observation Archive is a
Re8lstered Charlty (Charity Registration No. 11796731 and a
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Company numberCE0149601
PRINCIPALOFFICE
Unlverslty of Sussex
The University Library
Falmer
Brlghton
BN19QL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chalr:
Ms Jane Harwell
Trustees:
Mr John Brewer
Mrslmon Garfleld
Ms Kitty In8lis
Dr Michelle Johansen
Professor Claire Langhamer
Professor Lucy Noakes
Professor Ben Highmore
Secretary:
Dr Flona Coura8e {non-Trusteel

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
LEGALANDADMINISTRATION DETAILS
Independent Examlner
VMRAnder50n BAIHonsl FCA DChA
Clark 8rownscombe
2 St. Andrews Place
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 IUP
Bankers
co.operative Bank
P.0. Box 101
l Balloon st￿et
Manchester
M604EP

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
Introduction
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their annual report and financial Statements for the year ended 30
September 2023.
The Mass Observation Archive 15 registered as a charlty Icharlty Reglstratlon No. 11796731. It Is governed by Its
rules which were first adopted on 28 Au8USt 2018. It should be noted that the charity is the successor charity to
Mass Observation Archive Icharity Registration No. 2702181. The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
(Company number 11796731
The financial stalements comply wlth current statutory requlrements, the Rule5 and Accounting and Reportin8 bv
Charitie5.' Statement of Recommended Practlce appllcable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance wlth
FRS 102.
Objectlves of the charlty
To advance education for the publlc benefit by operatlng and maintaining an archlve speclallsin8 In partlcular but
not exclusively in the modern soclal history of Great Britaln.
The role of the Trustees
The charity trustees shall manage the affalrs of the CIO and may for that purpose exerclse all the powers of the
CIO. It Is the duty of each charity trustee..
to exercise his or her powers and to perform hls or her functions In hls or her capaclty as a trustee of the
CIO in the way he or she decldes In good faith would be most likely to further the purpose5 of the CIO,. and
b. to exercise, in the performance of those functions, such care and Skill as is reasonable in the circumstances
The chair of Trustees is the Dlrector of Llbrary Setvices, Unlverslty of Sussex, an ex officio appointed by the
Unlverslty of Sussex In Ilne with the provisions of the CIO'S constitution. The Rlsk Register is the responslblllty of
the Trustees. They provide the material support necessary for the effectlve running of the CIO. The Trustees work
in accordance with the guldelines laid down by the Charlty Commlssion.
Management is the responslblllty of the Trustees and is delegated to the Ma$5 Observatlon Team In term5 of day-
to-day admlnistratlon. Under the Mass ObseNation Unlversity of Sussex Memorandum of Understandln8 Imay
2018} the University of Sussex takes responsibility for the line management of staff employed specifically to work
on the Mass ObseNation Archive.

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
REPORT OF THE TRusfEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30SEPTEMBER 2023
Trustee responsibilities
Flnanclal statement5
The Trustees are requlred to prepare annual financial statements, which provide a true and fair view of the
affaSrs of the tharlty as at the end of the financial year and of the Income and expenditure of the Charity for
the year.
In preparing the report5 the Trustees:
Select suitable accountin8 policies and apply them con515tentlv
Make judgements and estlmates that are reasonable and prudent
3. State whether the applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material
departures disclosed and explalned In the Financial Stotements, and
Prepare the Flnancial Statements on the ongoing concern basis unless it is Inapproprlate.
Publlc beneflt
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guldance In the Charity Commisslon's general 8uldan¢e
on public benefit when revSewing the charlty's objectlves.
Rlsk revlew
The Board of Trustees revlews the malor risks to whlch the ¢haritV 15 exposed on a regular basls and systems
and actions are implemented to mitigate those risk5. The Trustees believe that there is a satisfactory system
of internal controls and these are reviewed on a regular basis.
Flnanclal revlew
Total expendlture and income for the year on operational actlvltles were £157,235 and £292,464
respectlvely, resultlng In a surplus of £135,229. The Charit￿5 net movement in funds was a surplus of
£135,229.12022.' a surplus of £91,328).
The charity carried forwards unrestrlcte(i funds of £604,127.
Expenditure is focu55ed entirely on Staff salaries and commlssion paid to Curtis Brown in respect of the
royalties collected.
Income
The prlnclpal sources of income are royalties in respect of the archives and payments for the commissioning
of Directlves by researchers. This action 15 in line with the MOA Trust aim to support postgraduate and early
career research.
Reserves
It has been agreed it is appropriate forThe Mass Observation Archive to maintain strate8ic reseNes sufficlent
to support unavoidable operating costs for a period of up to 12 months. The strategic reserve must consist
of unrestricted funds.

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
Summary of main financial activities in relation to Objects of the CIO
Three Directives coverin8 ei8ht themes were issued during this financial year. Five of these themes were
commlssloned through researchels fundlng, totalling £24,C4)0.
Royalty income was boosted by sales of a newly released Adam Matthew Digital products, in particular Moss
Observotlon Projert Onllne.
By Order of the Board of Trustees
Jane Harvell (Chair}
QHsf
Date: 14th May 2024

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
ThE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
I report on the account5 for the year ended 30 September 2023, which are set out on page5 7 to 12.
Respeetlvo responslbllltles of Trustees and Examlner
The charlty's Trustees are responslble for the preparation of the accounts. The charitrfs Trustees conslder
that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charltles Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that
an independent examination is needed.
I report in respect of my examlnation of the Trustee's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act
and In carrylng out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directlons given by the Charity
Commission under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act.
Independent Examlner's statement
Slnce your charltVs gross Income exceeded £250,000 your examlner must be a member of a Ilsted body. I
can confirm that l am quallfled to undertake the examlnatlon because l am a reglstered member of the
Instltute of Chartered Accountants In England and Wales whlch Is one of the Ilsted bodies.
I have completed my examlnatlon. I conflrm that no material matters have come to my attentlon In
connection wlth the examlnatlon 8lving me cause to belleve that in any material respect:
111 accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by sectlon 130 of the Act,. or
12} the accounts do not accord with those records,. or
131 Ihe accounts do not comply wlth the applicable requlrements concerning the form and content of
accounts set out In the CharStles (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 21K)8 other than any requlrement
that the accounts give a 'true and fair view. which is not a matter consldered as part of an independent
examination.
I have no con¢ems and have Come across no other matters in connection with the examlnatlon to whlch
attentlon should be drawn in this report In order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be
reached.
VMR Anderson BA (Honsl FCA DChA
Chartered Accountant
Clark Brownscombe
2 St. Andrews Place
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 IUP
Date:
2£)LF

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
srATEMENT OF FINANCIALACTIVITIES FOR
THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
Unr•strlcted Re¥aluatlon
funds
reserve
Totsl
funds
Unrestricted Revaluatlo
fvnds
n resetwe
Total funds
2022-23
2022-23
2022-23
2021-22
2021-22
2021-22
INCOME
Income and endowfftents from
Royaltie5
Other income
- Sale5
247N25
247N25
168,443
168,443
25,601
25,￿1
45.300
45,3LYJ
Interest Income
18,202
18,202
loo
Oonations
1.236
1.236
1,142
1,142
Tot•1 Income and endowments
292864
292864
214.985
214,985
EXPENDITURE ON
Expendlture on charltable actlvltles
157.235
157,235
123,657
123,657
T￿81 e%pendltttre
157,235
157,235
123,657
123,657
Net Incomellexpendlturel on
operatlonal acllvltles
13S,229
135,229
91,328
91,328
OTHER RECOGNISEDGAINSAND
LOSSES
N•t m¢)vemeni In furtds
135,229
135,229
91,328
91,328
Total funds brou8ht forward
468,898
2,000,OLXI
2,468A98
377,570 1000,OC*J
2,377,570
Total fundsurrled forward
604.127
2,1)00.000
2.604.127
468,898
2,IX)O,OCXJ
2,468,898

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
STATEMENT OF FINANCIALAcfiviTIES FOR
THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
Unrestricted
Funds
2022123
Unrestricted
Funds
2021122
Expenditure on charitable activities
Commission charges and cost of goods 501d
Travel, trainlng, and Meetlngs
Postage and Statlonery
Salarles
12,255
2,047
465
14.750
574
531
139,246
105,500
82
Staff welfare
Computer &
Subscrlptlon
Accountancy
Bookkeeplng fees
Independent èxaminers fee
Repalrs and maintenance
406
123
514
750
990
If
157,235
123.657

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
NOTES TOTHE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR
THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
CHARITY NUMBER 1179673
2022123
2021122
Flxed Asset
Mass Observation Archive
2MO,001
2,Crf)O,001
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtor5 and accrued Income
Cash at bank and in hand
31,757
2,135
485 453
487,588
654A63
Credltors.. Amounts falllng due wSlhln one year
14•t Current Assels
604.126
468,897
Total A55ets le55 Current Llabllltles
2 604 127
2 468 898
Represented by:
Unrestrlcted funds
General fund
604.127
468,898
Revaluatlon Reserve
uiooo00
2,CQO,000
The Flnancial Statements were approved by the Trustees on
Jane Harvell Trustee

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
NOTESTO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR
THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
ACCOUNTING POUCIES
a. Aecountln
These financial statements have been prepared under the hlstorlcal cost convention, and in
accordance with applicable accounting standards. In addition they have been prepared in
accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice
applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102. The trust constitutes
public benefit entity a5 defined by FRS 102. The Trustees consider that there are no material
uncertalntles about the trust's ability to contlnue as a going concern. The accounts are prepa￿d In
sterling whlch is the functional currency of the Charity.
b. Fund Accountlng
The charity maintains various funds in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice
'Accountln8 and Reportin8 by Charltles FRS 102, These funds, which requlre separate disclosure,
are as follows:.
Unfestrf¢ted Funds. These are the general funds of the charity and are expendable at the discretion
of the Trustees in the furtherance of the charitable objectlves. The main sources of general funds
are from fees, royalties and income from bank deposlt57
Voluntary Income
Donatlons are recognised as Income when the donatlon Is recelved.
Legacies are recognisecl at the earliest point at which the amounts become certain.
d. Investment Income
Interest is accrued on a dally basis and is credlted on thls basls In the Income and expendlture
account.
e. Expendlture
Expendlture Is Included in the Statement of Flnanclal Actlvltles on an accrual basls, Incluslve of any
VAT whlch cannot be recovered.
The main category of expenditure is:
Expenditure orb charitable artivitie5, which are the costs of running the trust.
f. Ststement of Cash Flows
The charity has taken advantage of the provlsions in the SORP for Charltles applying FRS 102 Bulletin
I not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
g. Financial Instruments
The Charity has financial assets and financial liabilitie5 of a kind that qualify as basic financial
instruments. Basic financlal instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and
subsequently measured at amortised cost. Financial assets held at amortlse(I cost comprise cash at
bank and in hand, other debtors and prepayments. Financial liabilities held at amortised cost
comprise other creditors and accruals.
io

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
NOTES TOTHE FINANaAL STATEMENTS FOR
THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Ma55
obSe￿atIon
Archive
Total
As at I" October 2022
2,C(KJ,001
2,CMXI,WI
Addltions
A5at 30, September 2023
2.C(Q,001
2,(JXJ,￿l
Net Book Value
A5at 3tyh September 2022
2,CO),001
2,OCYJ,001
Asat 3tth September 2023
2,CO),001
2,OC#J,001
DEBTORS
2022123
2021122
Trade Debtors
Accrued Income
Vat
Trade credltors
7,OJO
10,450
14,307
36
350
1,749
CREDITORS
2022123
202ty22
Trade Creditors
Accruals
48.792
1,545
19)
18,501
TAXATION
The trust 15 Considered to Pa55 the te5tS Set out in Paragraph I Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore
it meets the definition of a charity for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charlty is potentially
exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains recelved within categories covered by Chapter
3 Part 11 Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the
extent that such income or gains are applied exclusivety to charitable purposes.
li

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
NOTES TOTHE FINANaAL STATEMENTS FOR
THE YEAR ENDEO 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
ANAIYSIS OF STAFF COSTS, TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES AND THE COST OF KEY
MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL.
2022123
2021122
Salarie5 and wages
Social security costs
Pen51on costs
113,796
10,442
82,113
6,795
No employees had employee beneflts in excess of £60,0￿{2022'. nlll. Penslon costs are wholly charged to
unrestricted funds.
No remuneration was pald to any of the trustees during the year by the Mass Observation Archive.
The key management personnel of the charity comprise the Trustees and the Director of the Archive. The
Dlrector and the Chair of Trustees are employed by the Unlverslty of Sussex and thelr roles Include some
responsibilities for the Mass ObseNation Archive.
12