J.K. Rowling established Lumos to help children in institutional care.
The organization began in 2005 as the Children’s High Level Group, created by Rowling and European Parliament member Emma Nicholson. It was renamed Lumos in 2010, taking its name from a light-giving spell in the Harry Potter books.
Lumos campaigns to end the institutionalization of children and promote family-based or community-based care. Its work focuses on the harm that long-term institutional care can cause to children’s development, relationships and rights.
The charity’s name is sometimes confused with a general Harry Potter charitable project, but Lumos is an independent organization with a child-welfare mission. Rowling has supported its work through public advocacy, donations and fundraising. The organization has worked internationally with governments, professionals and local partners on reforms to child-care systems.