J.K. Rowling established Lumos to help institutionalized children. The organization began in 2005 as the Children’s High Level Group and was renamed Lumos in 2010.
Lumos works to end the institutionalization of children and promote family-based or community-based care. Its work has focused on changing systems in countries where children may be placed in large residential institutions, including efforts involving family support, foster care, and reintegration.
The charity’s name refers to the light-producing spell “Lumos” in the Harry Potter books. Rowling became involved after reading about children living in harmful institutional conditions. The organization is separate from the fictional wizarding world, although its name deliberately connects its mission with the idea of bringing light to difficult circumstances.