J.K. Rowling founded the charity that began as the Children’s High Level Group and was later renamed Lumos. She established it with the former European Parliament member Emma Nicholson in 2005.
The organization focuses on ending the institutionalization of children and supporting family-based or community-based care. Its work addresses children who are separated from families and placed in orphanages or other institutions, including children with disabilities.
The charity adopted the name Lumos in 2010. The name comes from the Latin word for light and also echoes the light-producing spell “Lumos” in the Harry Potter books. The charity’s work, however, is real-world child protection and social care rather than a fictional wizarding activity.
Lumos should not be confused with major fundraising organizations such as Comic Relief, Save the Children, or BBC Children in Need. Rowling’s connection is specifically to Lumos, whose campaign has emphasized family care, safeguarding, and the rights of children around the world.