**The Mass Observation Archive Annual Report 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025 Report Number 45** 

**www.massobs.org.uk moa@sussex.ac.uk** 




## **Trustees of the Mass Observation Archive** 

**John Brewer Simon Garfield Jane Harvell Kitty Inglis Michelle Johansen Hester Barron Lucy Noakes Ben Highmore Megan Sweeney Scarlett O’Malley** 

## **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** 

Public Benefit Statement ............................................................................................... 2 Access ............................................................................................................................. 4 Research and Collection Activities ................................................................................. 4 Engagement ................................................................................................................... 6 The 12th May diary project 2025................................................................................... 9 The Trustees ................................................................................................................. 10 Staff changes ................................................................................................................ 10 Volunteers and placement students............................................................................ 10 The Mass Observation Project ..................................................................................... 11 Collections .................................................................................................................... 12 Publications .................................................................................................................. 12 Events, talks and conferences...................................................................................... 13 Appendix 1 ................................................................................................................... 14 

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## _Access_ 

## _Research visits_ 

70 individuals visited the Mass Observation Archive and made 421 orders for material (see fig.1 and fig.2 in the appendix). 

## _Group sessions_ 

The Mass Observation Archive hosted 50 group visits (appendix fig.3). 1578 people participated in these sessions. A list of groups who visited during 2024-2025 is available in Appendix fig.4. The Mass Observation team delivered these sessions online and in person. 

_On request access digital collections_ 

Researchers may contact the Mass Observation Archive to accesses files submitted electronically in response to Mass Observation Project Directives. During the year, the Archive supplied 31 individuals with a total of 5,389 digital files (fig.7). 

_Online Access to AM Digital resource_ 

Researchers continued to be able to access parts of the Archive through the AM Digital products, Mass Observation Online and Mass Observation Project Online. 56,336 session visits were made during this period. See Section.4, Appendix fig. 5 for more statistics provided by the publisher. 

## **Research and Collection Activities** 

_Morgan Centre, University of Manchester_ 

Mass Observation continues to work closely with members of the Morgan Centre. Highlights include: 

- A panel at the British Sociological Conference in Manchester, April 2025 

- Incorporating Mass Observation material in their Sociology teaching and actively promoting its use for 2[nd] modules and 3[rd] year projects. 

- Kirsty Pattrick was invited to attend the Morgan Centres 30[th] Anniversary celebrations on 3[rd] September 2025, highlighting the valuable relationship Mass Observation has held with colleagues at the Centre since its inception. 

- A collaborative PhD scholarship. Funded by the North-West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership with match-funding from Mass Observation, Kirsty is the non-academic supervisor. The successful candidate Neve Meats will explore visual submissions to Mass Observation with a sociological research lens. She has completed her MSc and will start her PhD with time spent at the archive in Autumn 2025. 

_Centre for Innovation and Research in Childhood and Youth, University of Sussex_ 

Kirsty Pattrick continues to sit on the Advisory Board for CIRCY and supports its engagement activities. 

4 



## _Mass Observation and Political Feeling_ 

A successful event took place at the Institute of Historical Research, Senate House, London on 17th June 2025 with Professor Emily Robinson and Dr Jonathan Moss (university of Sussex). Participants from academia, think tanks, third sector and government, heard talks and discussed the potential for Mass Observation to be used as a resource for addressing political engagement in the UK. 

## _Making and Using Archives Network_ 

Kirsty Pattrick co-organised this new network with Professor Rachel Thomspon at the University of Sussex. The first networking meeting took place at The Keep on 7[th] May attended by 40+ people from across academic and professional services at all career levels at Sussex. Supported by an internal grant from Faculty Culture Research funding. 

## _British Sociological Organisation_ 

The grant also enabled Jessica Scantlebury and Kirsty Pattrick to attend the British Sociological Organisation event ‘Beyond the Archival Turn; making and using sociological archives’ 30[th] June. This took place at the University of Leicester in partnership with the Morgan Centre, University of Manchester. They co-delivered a workshop on _Working with Mass Observation_ with Dawn Lyon (University of Kent) and Khaleda Brophy-Harmer (University of Southampton). 

## _Mass Observing COVID-19 Collection_ 

This open access resource makes available nearly 7,000 submissions from the Mass Observation COVID-19 collection. It allows researchers to select relevant documents through searches of meta-data, keywords and open text. It is then possible to export the data into research tools of their own choice for analysis. The database can be accessed here: https://massobs.org.uk/research/covid19. 

This has been promoted through talks, teaching sessions and social media. 

## _National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM)_ 

Kirsty Pattrick, Research Manager is a member of a national Special Interest Group for participatory and collaborative research methods. Kirsty co-produced an online training resource with another member on using qualitative diary methods. 

On 11[th] September 2025 Kirsty co-organised the NCRM Big Qualitative Data event with Dr Laura Radcliffe (University of Liverpool) and Professor Sophie Woodard (University of Manchester) hosted at the Mass Observation Archive, at The Keep. The day brought together 35 people from academia and the charity sector including doctoral students. Throughout the day participants looked at working with large sets of multi-format qualitative material. It included a showcase of Mass Observation collections and a tour of The Keep. A resource output was produced for the NCRM website. 

_Mass Observation Project Online_ 

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The Mass Observation Archive collaborated with AM Digital to extend the Mass Observation Project Online resource, incorporating responses to Project Directives from 2010 to 2019. Digitisation was completed in summer 2025, and the Mass Observation team contacted over 100 contributors to clear copyright permissions. 98 boxes were prepared for digitisation and taken offsite during this time. 

## _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. Recent publications are included in section 9. 

## _Eastern Arc_ 

Jessica joined the Eastern Arc group for Archives and Heritage Collections in March 2025. The Eastern Arc is a strategic collaboration between the universities of East Anglia, Essex, Kent, and Sussex. 

## _Discovering Collections, Discovering Communities (DCDC_ ) 

Jessica spoke at the DCDC conference at the University of Durham in July 2025. She presented on the Archive’s experience of rapid collecting during the pandemic and ‑ on the creation of the open access resource funded by the Wellcome Trust. Over 200 people attended this hybrid event. 

## **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: 

- Arts & Humanities 9[th] October 

- MA Community Heritage, University of Sussex, 22[nd] October 

- MA Skills & Methods History, University of Sussex, 4[th] November 

- Business School Coffee Morning, University of Sussex, 7[th] November 

- Education, Historical Childhoods 7[th] November 

- MA Linguistics, University of Sussex, 11[th] November 

- BA History, Second World War, 20[th] November 

- MA Criminology, University of Sussex, 26[th] November 

- Blatchington Mill School Year 10, 26[th] November 

- Sociology, University of Brighton, 7[th] January 2025 

- Foundation Year, Welfare State Lecture, University of Sussex, 6[th] February 

- BA Film Studies, British Cinema, University of Sussex, 10[th] February 

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- BA Media Studies, University of Sussex, 19[th] and 21[st] February 2025 

- Graphic Design, 26[th] February 

- BA Politics, University of Sussex, 27[th] February 

- BA Elective Module Death & Dying, University of Sussex, 3[rd] March 

- Literature 9[th] March 

- BA History of Emotions, University of Sussex, 2[nd] April 

- Making and Using Social Archives Network, University of Sussex, 7[th] May 

- Doctoral School ‘Mass Observation as Survey’, University of Sussex, 18[th] June 

- Varndean College 10[th] June 

- Brighton College 18[th] September 

On 5[th] August Kirsty Pattrick and Ellie Turner-Kilburn, Assistant Officer hosted a visit and were interviewed by five students from Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea as part of their Global Academic Exploration Programme. 

Suzanne Rose delivered outreach sessions in HMP Lewes and Rosewood School, a specialist school within Kent & Medway NHS Trust for young people with mental health issues, as well as talks for Micheldene WI, Eastbourne U3A and Essex University. She also hosted community visits for Fresh Start Portslade, All Sorts, a community group for trans and gender diverse young people, and a bilingual community group from Brighton. 

Mass Observation Staff hosted a stall at Senate House for History Day 5[th] Nov 2024, with support from placement students. This was attended by 300+ people 

The following events were hosted by Mass Observation as part of its public events programme: 

- Carl and Bobbie event featuring the war time love letters between an American GI and his English sweetheart brought to life with readings by drama students set in 1940s installation. Dec 2024 

- Film screenings at The Keep featuring films inspired by and showcasing the collection. Jan & March 2025 

- VE Day commemoration at The Keep with talk on Mass Observation Archive and showcasing the collection. May 2025 

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 and highlighting research and potential of the Archive. 

_Webinar Events_ 

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- **Mass Observing COVID-19 Five-years on 6[th] June** Professor Nick Clarke, University of Southampton and Nicola Madge, University of Kingston 

- **Verian and Mass Observation 24[th] September** 

   - Professor Lucy Noakes _War and Peace: Mass Observers and the end of the war in Europe, May 1945_ 

Yves Fradier, Director of Survey and Methods (Verian)Living through war: Insights from displaced Ukrainians 

## _Living Histories_ 

An NHS Heads On partnership project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Living Histories project aims to record experiences of those accessing or delivering mental health services as part of the Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust. This included people’s lived experience of mental health throughout their life course, or work, as well as during the Covid 19 pandemic. Engagement Manager served on the Steering Group and worked with NHS consultants, experts by experience and project team to support delivery of this complex partnership project. 

Transcripts of the interviews conducted as part of the project will be deposited with the Archive in 2026. The touring exhibition showcasing the project’s outcomes will be launched at the De la Warr Pavilion on 23[rd] February 2026. 

## _Creative Community Resilience_ 

An AHRC funded Creative, Community, Resilience project with University of Southampton and University of Brighton to research and record experiences of trans and gender diverse young people. Mass Observation delivered training in January 2025 to the research team on MO methodology and supported engagement activities linked to 12[th] May to record and receive diaries. Resources were developed through community group activities with All Sorts, a community group and led by trans and gender diverse young people. 

## _Take Shelter_ 

A National Lottery Heritage Fund supported partnership project to enhance and develop the museum and shelter at Downs Junior School which will capture and share the experiences of the city’s last wartime veterans. Working with volunteers, the project will present these first-hand experiences alongside artefacts, wartime documents, photographs and films drawn from the partner organisations including Mass Observation Archive to create a rich story of wartime Brighton. Research visits by project volunteers have taken place in April, June and July 2025 and will continue for the duration of the project. Materials selected will be used to enhance the displays and interactive activities within the shelter itself. MOA attended the Take Shelter Open Weekend again in May 2025, which was attended by 200+ people, in order to commemorate VE Day and promote 12[th] May. 

8 



## _Social Media_ 

The archive promotes its events and activities online via Instagram, BlueSky and LinkedIn.  MO has seen growth across all its channels during the reporting period. 

- Instagram- 6,021 views and 1,504 engagements. 

- LinkedIn – 8,150 impressions, 854 engagements and 558 post link clicks. Net audience growth of 144 over the period. 

Insights for this period are currently unavailable to access for BlueSky. These will feature in the next annual report. 

## _VE Day in Brighton and beyond_ 

The University of Sussex hosted a public event at The Keep on Friday 9 May 2025 to celebrate VE Day to support Brighton & Hove City Council’s programme of events. 

Kevin Bacon (Head of Heritage Collections and Mass Observation) spoke about the wartime experience of Brighton as documented in photographs held at The Keep. Jessica Scantlebury (Mass Observation Archivist) explored the Mass Observation Archive, renowned for its extensive collection of Second World War diaries that capture the thoughts and emotions of British people during the conflict and the celebrations of VE Day. 

They were joined by Councillor Amanda Grimshaw, Deputy Mayor of Brighton & Hove, who introduced the event and reflected on the bombing raids inflicted on Brighton and Hove during the war. 

58 people attended by this event. 

## **The 12th May diary project 2025** 

A total of 287 diaries were submitted electronically, with an additional 128 received by post. Among the postal submissions were contributions from the following groups: 

- 26 from HMP Ashfield 

- 17 from HMP Portland 

- 5 from HMP Lewes 

- 7 from Kimberly Library 

- 5 from Beeston Library 

As with previous years, participants were asked to share the copyright of their diary with the Archive. 

9 



We were grateful for the support of John Pateman PhD researcher, who worked to promote 12[th] May in a network of libraries across the Midlands. He will continue to support the project in 2026 and 2027 as part of his research into the role libraries play in communities. 

## **The Trustees** 

Kitty Inglis stepped down from the Board of Trustees in summer 2025, having served since 2008 during her tenure as University of Sussex Librarian, a role she left in winter 2017. 

Scarlett O’Malley and Meg Sweeney joined the Board of Trustees in 2025, following guidance from the Young Trustees Movement to broaden representation within the governance team. 

Fiona Courage joined the Board of Trustees in September 2025 and has taken over the role of Chair from Jane Harvell. Jane remains on the Board as University of Sussex Librarian. 

## **Staff changes** 

As Fiona Courage has joined the Board of Trustees, Kevin Bacon has taken over the role of Head of Mass Observation Archive from September 2025. Kevin has been line managing the Mass Observation team since April 2024 but will now report to the Board on operational matters. 

## **Volunteers and placement students** 

The Mass Observation Archive welcomed a range of student placements, work experience participants, and volunteers during the reporting year. 

Placement students (BA, MA and PhD): 

- In autumn 2024, Isabel Snowdon, MA History student and Jasleen Kaur, BA History student from **Queen Mary University London** , undertook hybrid placements that combined remote and in-person activities. Their work included transcription, identifying extracts for teaching and publicity, writing blog posts, and assisting with the Archive’s stand at History Day in November 2025. 

- Niamh Rutter, an MA student at the **University of Brighton** , completed a 120hour placement. 

- Emily Calcraft, PhD student from the **University of Sheffield** volunteered remotely on transcription and cataloguing 12[th] May diaries and delivered an 

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online talk about Mass Observation to the WEA in April 2025 attended by over 150 people. 

- Khaleda Brophy-Harmer, a PhD student from the **University of Southampton** , undertook a 12-week placement focused on the Ali Jaques collection. 

- Natalie Wood, a PhD student from the **University of Manchester** , undertook a one-week placement. This involved publicity for the 12th May 2026 daydiary event. She will be undertaking fieldwork in Blackpool in 2025/6 and will support engagement with MO activities in this area. 

- Conrad Freidson joined the team one day a week to assist with analysis of the 12th May data, following completion of his MSc. 

Work Experience: 

- Dice Barker joined the Archive for a one-week work experience placement in February 2025 and Calvin Clarke-Roberts joined us in July 2025 for a week’s work experience. 

Volunteers: 

- Wei Wei Yang supported engagement activities from September to November including History Day 2024 

- Libby Cleaves continued to volunteer and support digitisation and cataloguing of the Carl & Bobbie Collection. 

- Jean Southey continued to volunteer supporting various events and teaching sessions. 

## **The Mass Observation Project** 

We currently have 602 Observers on the panel. The panel was closed in June 2025 pending a review. 

## _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 University of East Anglia, Bristol, Reading, Nottingham, Cardiff and York for bids to BA, ESRC, AHRC, Wellcome and institution’s internal funding. 

In March 2025, the Mass Observation team began using Email Blaster—a secure email marketing platform—to communicate with Mass Observation Project writers. 

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At that time, 525 writers received their directives electronically, while 91 received them by post. The team worked with the University of Sussex Information Management team to ensure compliance with data protection regulations. 

## **Collections** 

A new acquisition has been received: the Guant Family Letters, comprising approximately five boxes of correspondence exchanged between three siblings attending different boarding schools during the 1970s. This collection offers insight into family life and education during that period. 

## **Publications** 

Balmer, A., Hodgson, J., Holmes, H., May, V. and Pattrick, K. (2025) ‘Sociology of Everyday Life in the Past and Future Uses of the Mass Observation Project: Methodology, Materiality and Personal Life’, _Sociological Research Online_ . doi:10.1177/13607804241298239. 

Clarke, N. (ed.) (2024). Everyday life in the COVID-19 pandemic: Mass Observation's 12th May diaries. London: _Bloomsbury Academic_ . 

Cooper, T. and Turner, M. (2024) ‘“That Awful Night in October”: Sensory Experiences of Britain’s 1987 Hurricane’ _, Cultural and Social History_ , 21(5), pp.721– 739. doi:10.1080/14780038.2024.2379507. 

Curzon, L.D. and Jones, B.W. (eds.) (2024) _The historical contexts and contemporary uses of Mass Observation: 1930s to the present_ . London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. 

Ehgartner, U. and Welch, D. (2024) ‘Exploring cultural futures: Dimensions of projectivity as a methodological lens for narrative analysis’ _, Futures_ , 164, Article 103445. doi:10.1016/j.futures.2024.103445. 

Huxtable, S.-A. (2024) ‘Magic and Materialism: Fortune Telling and the Culture of Enchantment, 1919–1939’, _Journal of Design History_ , 37(4), pp.381–397. doi:10.1093/jdh/epae032. 

Jackman, A. (2025) ‘Everyday understandings of drone incidents and misuse in the Mass Observation Archive’, _The Geographical Journal_ , 191(2), n.p. doi:10.1111/geoj.12618. 

Marsden, J. and Harris, R. (2024) ‘Mass Observation, Counterculture and the “Art of Living”’, _Humanities_ , 13(6), p.161. doi:10.3390/h13060161. 

Moody, S.J. (2025) ‘Mass-Observers at the “atomic crossroads”’, _Contemporary British History_ , 39(2), pp.219–250. doi:10.1080/13619462.2024.2361627. 

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Moss, J., Robinson, E. and Watts, J. (2024) _The politics of feeling in Brexit Britain: Stories from the Mass Observation Project._ Manchester: Manchester University Press. 

Pattrick, K and Scantlebury, J.(2024) 'Mass Observing COVID-19', in Kavanagh, J., Miles, E., West, R.L. and Cordner, S. (eds.) Ethics of Contemporary Collecting. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 162–173. 

Pimlott, W. (2024) ‘Global British Jewish History: YIVO in Britain, 1937–71’, _Jewish Social Studies_ , 29(3), pp.119–155. doi:10.2979/jss.000018. 

Purcell, J. and Courage, F. (eds.) (2024) _Reflections on British Royalty: MassObservation and the Monarchy_ , 1937–2022. London: Bloomsbury Academic. 

Scott, S. and Lockwood, N. (2025) ‘Non-identity accounts: Personal myths, cultural scripts and narrative alignment’, _The Sociological Review_ , 73(5), pp.1122–1139. doi:10.1177/00380261241236256. 

van Emmerik, C. (2024) ‘Ethical Reflexivity, Care, and Slippery Data: Lessons From Working With the Mass Observation Project’, _Sociological Research Online_ , 29(3), pp.758–766. doi:10.1177/13607804231164486. 

van Emmerik, C., Coleman, R. and Lyon, D. (2025) ‘Towards a minor sociology of futures: Shifting futures in mass observation accounts of the COVID-19 pandemic’, _Journal of Sociology_ , 61(1), pp.176–192. doi:10.1177/14407833241248672. 

Wright, V. and Lovatt, M. (2024) ‘Thinking about the future in older age’, _Journal of Aging Studies_ , 71, Article 101282. doi:10.1016/j.jaging.2024.101282. 

## **Events, talks and conferences** 

Jessica Scantlebury 

- ‘Mass Observing VE Day’, 9[th] May 2025, The Keep 

- ‘COVID-19: An Open Access Resource’, 31[st] July 2025, Discovering Collections Discovering Communities, University of Durham 

## Suzanne Rose 

- ‘Observing Everyday Life’, 10[th] February 2025 Micheldene WI 

- ‘Mass Observing Everyday Life’, 4[th] March 2025 Eastbourne U3A 

- ‘Mass Observation in Essex’, 21[st] May 2025, Essex University 

## Kirsty Pattrick 

- ‘Mass Observing COVID-19', 9[th] October 2024, University of Brighton 

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- ‘Mass Observation as Qualitative Data’, NCRM Big Qualitative Data at The Keep, 11[th] September 2025 

## **Appendix 1** 

_**Fig. 1 Number of visits made by individual researchers 2019-2025**_ 

|**Year**|**To MOA**|**% of all visits to Special**<br>**Collections**|**% of all visits to The Keep**|
|---|---|---|---|
|2024-2025|70|55|8|
|2023-2024|54|30|5|
|2022-2023|118|20|7|
|2021-2022|70|46|9|
|2020-2021|42|77|8|
|2019-2020|226|49|9|



_**Fig. 2 Number of documents issued from the MOA to researchers at The Keep 20192025**_ 

|**_2025_**||
|---|---|
|**Year**|**Number of**<br>**documents**|
|**2**024-2025|**4**21|
|2023-2024|266|
|2022-2023|257|
|2021-2022|436|
|2020-2021|342|
|2019-2020|430|



## _**Fig. 3 Group visits 2019-2025**_ 

|**Year**|**To MOA**|**Attendance**|
|---|---|---|
|2023-2024|50|1428|
|2022-2023|53|1072|
|2021-22|51|846|
|2020-2021|30|561|
|2019-2020|42|456|



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_**Fig. 4 Group visits made to the MOA in 2024-2025**_ 

|Date|Insititition|Subject|Level|Number of<br>Students|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|09/10/2024|Universityof Brighton|Arts &<br>Humanities|Staff &<br>students|10|
|15/10/2024|Universityof Sussex|English|UG|12|
|22/10/2024|Universityof Sussex|History|MA|12|
|04/11/2024|Universityof Sussex|History|MA|12|
|05/11/2024|IHR|History||200|
|06/11/2024|National Centre for Research<br>Methods(NCRM)|NCRM<br>Particpatory &<br>Collaborative<br>Special<br>Interest Group<br>Network|UG/PG,<br>academic,<br>general|88|
|07/11/2024|Universityof Sussex|Education|UG|14|
|07/11/2024|Universityof Sussex|Buisness<br>School|UG/PG,<br>academic,<br>prof<br>services|25|
|11/11/2024|Universityof Sussex|Linguistics|MA|4|
|20/11/2024|Universityof Sussex|History|UG|16|
|26/11/2024|Universityof Sussex|Criminology|MA|30|
|26/11/2024|Blatchington Mill School||Year 10|30|
|04/12/2024|Public|||40|
|07/01/2025|Universityof Brighton|Humanities|BA|7|
|07/01/2025|Universityof Brighton|Humanities|BA|24|
|22/01/2025|Uni Southampton||MA|7|
|06/02/2025|Universityof Sussex|Foundation|UG|19|
|10/02/2025|Universityof Sussex|Film Studies|UG|3|
|10/02/2025|Eastbourne WI||Public|30|
|15/02/2025|University of Sussex Research<br>Workshop|Education and<br>Social Work|Public|5|



15 



|18/02/2025|Universityof Brighton|Media|BA|6|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|18/02/2025|Universityof Brighton|Media|BA|15|
|19/02/2025|Universityof Brighton|Media|BA|8|
|21/02/2025|Universityof Brighton|Media|BA|10|
|26/02/2025|Universityof Brighton|Graphic Design|UG|14|
|26/02/2025|Universityof Brighton|Graphic Design|UG|14|
|27/02/2025|Universityof Sussex|Politics|UG 3rd Yr|17|
|02/03/2025|Universityof Sussex|History|UG  3rdyear|20|
|14/03/2025|Universityof Sussex|English|UG2|15|
|01/04/2025|British Soc Soc|Conference|Public|300|
|30/04/2025|Take Shelter|||6|
|07/05/2025|Universityof Sussex|Open to all<br>dept.|N/a|20|
|07/05/2025|HMP Lewes||Public|7|
|09/05/2025|VE Dayevent|UoS|Public|58|
|12/05/2025|Eastern Arc|UoS|Academic<br>Researchers|5|
|20/05/2025|Universityof Brighton|Doctoral<br>School|PhD|10|
|21/05/2025|Universityof Essex||All|14|
|04/06/2025|MOA Covid Webinar||Public|22|
|10/06/2025|Vardean College||6th form|100|
|25/06/2025|Take Shelter||Public|6|
|02/07/2025|Take Shelter||Public|6|
|12/07/2025|Fresh Start Portslade||Public|10|
|31/07/2025|DCDC||Professional|200|
|05/08/2025|Sungkyunkwan University,<br>Korea|||5|
|18/09/2025|Brighton College|History|Year 11|10|
|20/09/2025|Universityof Sussex|Law, Politics &<br>Sociology|Doctoral|3|
|24/09/2025|Verian||Public|25|
|09/11/2025|NCRM||Doctoral<br>and<br>academics|30|



16 



09/11/2025 NCRM 

Doctoral and academics 30 

## _**Fig. 5 Access to Mass Observation Online 2019-2025**_ 

|**Year**|**A**ll**Sessions**|**Number of sessions from members**<br>**of the University of Sussex**|**Number of sessions**<br>**made from The Keep**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**2**024-<br>2025|26,372|1,702|66|
|2023-<br>2024|25,287|1,806|73|
|2022-<br>2023|28,391|2,286|83|
|2021-<br>2022|32,497|1,726|87|
|2020-<br>2021|25,372|1,202|32|
|2019-<br>2020|18,790|2,525|110|



_**Fig. 5 Access to Mass Observation Project Online 2021-2025**_ 

|**Year**|**All sessions**|**Number of sessions from**<br>**members of the University of**<br>**Sussex**|**Number of sessions**<br>**from The Keep**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**2**024-2025|**2**9,964|**349**|2|
|2023-2024|38,039|442|0|
|2022-2023|41,421|449|3|
|2021-2022|636|556|0|
|2020-2021|1,141|368|1|



_**Fig.6 Directive themes 2024-2025 (Data collected October 2025)**_ 

|**Topic**|**Commissioner**|**Funding**|**Response**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Cost of Living<br>Crisis Update;|University of<br>Southampton<br>Prof Jane<br>Falkingham|£10,000|192 (32%)|
|Seasons|In-house||183 (30%)|



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||The Israeli-<br>Palestinian<br>conflict|In-house||193 (32%)|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Spring<br>2025 (No<br>133)|Covid-19 Five<br>years on;|In-house||212 (35%)|
||VE Day;|In-house||194 (32%)|
||Good News|In-house||176 (29%)|
|Summer<br>2025 (No<br>134)*|Hands|Morgan Centre,<br>University of<br>Manchester||109 (17%)|
||Time Pieces;|Morgan Centre,<br>University of<br>Manchester||112 (17%)|
||Kitchens|Morgan Centre,<br>University of<br>Manchester||101 (15%)|



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

## _**Fig.7 Access to digital responses**_ 

|**Date**|**Number of requests**|**Number of files**|
|---|---|---|
|2024-2025|31|5389|



KP/SR/JS 13/03/2026 

18 



The Mass
Observation
Archive
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 30 September 2025
Registered Charity Number: 1179673
Company Number: CE014960

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
CONTENTS
Poge
Legal and administration details
Report of the Trustees
Independent Examinerfs report
Statement of financial activities
Balance sheet
Notes to the financial statements
9-11

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS
LEGAL STATUS
The Mass Observation Archive is a
Registered Charity (Charity Re8lStration No. 11796731 and a
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Company number
CE014960)
PRINCIPAL OFFICE
University of Sussex
The University Library
Falmer
Brighton
BNI 9QL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chair:
Dr Fiona Courage (Appointed 9 July 2025)
Trustees:
Mr John Brewer
Mr Simon Garfield
Ms Jane Harvell
Ms Kitty Inglis IResigned 9 July 20251
Dr Michelle Johansen
Professor Claire Langhamer IResi8ned 23 October 20241
Professor Lucy Noakes
Professor Ben Highmore
Professor Hester Barron
Ms Megan Sweeney (Appointed 9 July 20251
Ms Scarlett O'malley (Appointed 9 July 20251
Secretary:
Mr Kevin Bacon {non-Trusteel
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
VMR Anderson BAIHonsl FCA DChA
Carpenter Box
2 St. Andrews Place
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 IUP
BANKERS
Co-operative Bank
P.0. Box 101
l Balloon Street
Manchester
M604EP

THEMASS OBSER VA TION ARCHIVE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Introduction
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30
September 2025.
The Mas5 Observation Archive is registered as a tharity (Charity Registration No. 11796731. It is governed by it5
rules which were first adopted on 28 August 2018. It should be noted thot 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 statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Rules and Accounting and Reporting by
Charities= Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with
FRS 102.
Objertives of the charity
To advance education for the public benefit by operating and maintaining an archive 5peciali5ing in particular but
not exclusively in the modern social history of Great Britaill.
The role of the Trustees
The charity trustees shall manage the affairs of the CIO and may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the
CIO. It 15 the duty of each charity trustee-.
to exercise his or her powers and to perform his or her functions in his or her capacity as a trustee of the
CIO in the way he or she decides in good faith would be most likely to further the purposes of the CIO- and
to exercise, in the performance of those functions, such care and skill as is reasonable in the circumstances
The chair of Trustees is the Director of Library Services, Universlty of Sussex, an ex officio appointed by the
University of Sussex in line with the provisions of the CIO'S constitution. The Risk Register is the responsibility of
the Trustees. They provide the material support necessary for the effective running of the CIO. The Trustees work
in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Charity Commission.
Management is the responsibility of the Trustees and is delegated to the Mas5 Observation Team in temis of day-
to-day administration. Under the Mass Observation University of Sussex Memorandum of Understanding Imay
20181 the University of Sussex takes responsibility for the line management of staff employed specifically to work
on the Mas5 Observation Archive.

THEMASS OBSERVATIOJV ARCHIVE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Trustee responsibilities
Financial statements
The Trustees are required to prepare annual financial statements, which provlde a true and fair view of the
affairs of the charity a5 at the end of the financial year and of the income and expenditure of the charity for
the year.
In preparing the reports the Trustees:
Select sultable accounting policies and apply them consistently
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
State whether the applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material
departures disclosed and explained in the Financial Statements, and
Prepare the Financial Statements on the ongoing concern ba515 unless it is inappropriate.
Public benefit
The Trustees corbfim that they have referred to the guidance in the Charity Commission's general guidance
on public benefit when reviewing the charity's objectives.
Risk revlew
The Board of Trustees reviews the major risks to which the charity is exposed on a regular basis and systems
and actions are implemented to mitigate those risks. The Trustees believe that there is a satisfactory system
of internal controls and these are reviewed on a regular basis.
Flnancial review
Total expenditure and income for the year on operational activities were £173.605 and £164,669
respectively. resulting in a deficit of £8.936. The Charity's net movement In funds was a deficit of £8.936.
12024: a Surplus of £54,359).
The charity carried forwards unrestricted funds of £649,550.
Expenditure is focu55ed entirely on Staff salaries and commission paid to Curtis Brown in respect of the
royalties collected.
Income
The principal sources of income are royalties in respect of the archives and payments for the commissioning
of Directives by researchers. This action is in line with the MOA Trust aim to support postgraduate and earlv
career research.
Reserves
It has been agreed it Is appropriate forThe Mass ObservatiOf7 Archive to maintain strategic reserves sufficient
to support unavoidable operating costs for a period of up to 12 months. The strategic reserve must con51St
of unrestricted funds.

THE MASS OBSERVA TIONARCHIVE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Summary of main financial activities in relation to Objects of the CIO
In this financial year three directives were issued covering nine research tOPlCs. This included a collaboration
with the University of Southampton which Benerated the Summer 2025 Directive on the Cost of Living Crisis.
For this. an income of £10,000 was received through funding from ESRC.
A total of £1,760 was received from other donations and fees for educational activities.
By Order of the Board of Trustees
Fiona Courage (Chairl
Date..
It13120•6

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
I report on the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2025, whlch are set out on page5 6 to 11.
Respectlve responslbilities of Trustees and Examlner
The charitvs Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's Trustees consider
that an audit is not reqUI￿d for this year under section 144 of the Charities Att 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that
an independent examlnation is needed.
I report in respect of my examination of the Trustee's accounts carrled out under Section 145 of the 2011 Act
and in carryin8 Out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity
Commission under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act.
Independent Examlnerfs statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention In
connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
{11 accounting records were not kept in ￿sPert of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act. or
{21 the accounts do not accord with those records,- or
(31 the accounts do not comply with the appllcable requirement5 concerning the form and content of
accounts set out In the Charities IAccounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement
that the accounts give a 'true and falr view, which is not a matter considered as part of an Independent
examlnatlon.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examinatlon to which
attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the account5 to be
reached.
VMR Anderson BA (Honsl FCA DChA
Chartered Accountant
Carpenter Box
2 St. Andrews Place
Lewe5
East Sussex
BN7 IUP
2b l-I5A Io
Date:

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE
YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Unrestri¢ted
funds
Revaluation
rèseThe
Total
funds
Unrestrlcted Revaluatlon
funds
reserve
Total funds
2024-25
2024-25
2024-25
2023-24
2023-24
2023-24
INCOME
Income and endowments fmm
Royalties
Other Income
- Sales
129.023
129.023
150,249
150,249
11,706
11,706
33,680
33,680
Interest Income
21180
22,180
23,030
23,030
Donation5
1.760
1.760
312
312
Total Income and endowments
164,669
164,669
207,271
207,271
EXPENDITURE ON
Empendlture on charitable
activitie5
173.605
173,605
152,912
152.912
Total expendlture
173.605
173.605
152,912
152.912
Net {expendlturellin¢ome on
operatSonal artlvltles
18.9361
18.9361
54,359
54.359
Totsl funds brouBht forward
658,486
2,000,000
658,486
604,127
2.000.000 2.604.127
Total funds Carried forward
649,550
2,000.000 1649,550
658,486
2,000.000 2,658,486

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AcfiviTIES FOR THE
YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Unrestricted
,Funds
2024n5
Unrestrlcted
Funds
2023124
Expenditure on charitable activities
Commission charges and cost of goods sold
Travel. accommodation and subsistence
Advertising and marketing
Postage. printine and stationery
Salaries
13,079
3,396
329
15,258
1,632
672
602
415
151,589
53
131,393
Staff welfare
Staff training
Computer & IT
Subscription
Accountancv
Bookkeepin8 fees
Independent examiners fee
Bank charges
HMRC interest
855
288
368
244
126
1.125
1.022
795
1,275
835
29
231
99
173.605
152,912

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
CHARITY NUMBER 1179673
Note
2024125
2023124
Flxed Asset
Mass Observatlon Archlve
2.000.001
2.￿0,001
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
41,148
613.292
654.440
45.481
630,019
675,500
Creditors.. Amounts fallin8 due within one year
4,891
17,015
Net Current Assets
649,549
658,485
Total A5SÈts less Current Liabilities
2.649,550
2,658,486
Repre5enled bv..
Unrestricted funds
General fund
649,550
658,486
Revaluatlon Reserve
000,000
2,000,000
2.649.550
2,658.486
The Financial Statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on
and were signed on its behalf by..
Fiona Courage (Chairl

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE
YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
a. Accounting
These financial statements have been prepared under the historical 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 a
public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The Trustees consider that there are no material
uncertainties about the trust's ability to continue as a going concern. The accounts are prepared in
sterling which is the functional currency of the Charitv.
b. Fund AccountlnB
The charity maintains variou5 funds in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice
'Accounting and Reporting by Charities FRS 102,. These funds, which require separate disclosure,
are as follows:.
Unrestricted Funds. These are the general funds of the charity and are expendable at the discretion
of the TrLSStees in the furtherance of the charitable objectives. The main sources of general funds
are from fees, royalties and income from bank dep051t>
c. Voluntary Income
Donations are recognised as income when the donation 15 received.
Legacies are recognised at the earliest point at which the amount5 become certain.
d. Investment Incorne
Interest is accrued on a daily ba515 and is credited on this basis in the Income and expenditure
account.
e. Expendlture
Expenditure is included in the Statement of Financial Actlvlties on an a¢¢rual basi5, inclusive of any
VAT which cannot be recovered.
The main category of expenditure is..
ExpenditLtre on charitable activities, which are the costs of running the trust.
f. Statement of Cash Flov
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for Charities 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 finantial
Instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and
subsequently measured at amortised cost. Financial assets held at amortised cost comprise cash at
bank and in hand, other debtors and prepayments. Financial liabilities held at amortised cost
comprise other creditors and accruals.

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE
YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Mass
Observation
Archive
Total
As at I" October 2024
2,000,CNJI
2,000,001
Additions
As at 30 September 2025
2,000,001
2,IX)O,001
Net Book Value
A5 at 301h September 2024
2.OCNJ,001
2,000,001
A5 at 30" September 2025
2,000,001
2,000,001
DEBTORS
2024125
2023124
Trade Debtors
Accrued Income
Prepayments
VAT
4,000
36.788
32,751
385
8,012
41,148
4,693
45,481
CREDITORS
2024125
2023124
Trade Creditors
Accruals
4,891
4,891
17,015
17,015
TAXATION
The trust is considered to pa55 the tests 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 charity is potentially
exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received 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 exclusively to charitable purpose5.
io

THE MASS OBSERVATION ARCHIVE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE
YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
ANALYSIS OF STAFF COSTS, TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES AND THE COST OF KEY
MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL.
2024125
2023124
Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension costs
125,318
13,252
13,019
151,589
109.280
10,477
11,636
131,393
No employees had employee benefits in excess of £60,￿0(2024.. nill. Pension costs a￿ wholly charged to
unrestricted funds.
No remuneration wa5 paid 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
Director and the Chair of Trustees are employed by the University of Sussex and their roles include some
responsibilities for the Mass Observation Archive.
li