J.K. Rowling founded Lumos in 2005 to help disadvantaged children. The organization was originally called the Children’s High Level Group and later became Lumos, a name inspired by the Harry Potter series.
Lumos campaigns to end the institutionalization of children and promote family-based care. Its work addresses children separated from families because of poverty, disability, or other social pressures, with programs and advocacy in multiple countries.
Rowling became involved after reading about children living in institutions in Eastern Europe. Her charity work expanded beyond the Harry Potter books’ fictional concerns and focused on practical child-welfare reform.
Lumos is distinct from Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need, which are separate British charities. Its specific mission centers on replacing harmful institutional care with family and community support.