J.K. Rowling established the charity that became Lumos in 2005.
The organization was originally called the Children’s High Level Group. Rowling helped launch it with the aim of improving conditions for children separated from their families, particularly children living in institutions. Its work focused on family-based care, community services, and reforming systems that place children in residential institutions.
The organization adopted the name Lumos in 2010. The name refers to a light-producing spell in the Harry Potter books, but the charity’s work is a real-world child-protection program rather than a literary project. Lumos campaigns internationally against institutionalization and supports family and community care.
A common mix-up is to date the charity from its renaming rather than its founding. The relevant sequence is 2005 for the Children’s High Level Group and 2010 for the adoption of the Lumos name. Rowling has also supported other charities, including Comic Relief and One Parent Families.