J.K. Rowling established Lumos in 2005 to support vulnerable children and young people.
The organization was originally founded as the Children’s High Level Group. It later became known as Lumos, a name inspired by the light-producing charm in the Harry Potter stories. The charity works to end the institutionalization of children and promote family- and community-based care.
Lumos has focused on children separated from families because of poverty, disability, or other difficult circumstances. Its work includes research, advocacy, and support for systems intended to keep children in safe family settings whenever possible.
A common mix-up concerns the charity’s original name. It was not founded under the name Lumos; the earlier name was the Children’s High Level Group. The organization adopted the Lumos name in 2010.