J.K. Rowling founded Lumos to help children affected by institutionalization. The organization was originally established in 2005 as the Children’s High Level Group.
Lumos works internationally to end the institutionalization of children and support family-based care. Its work addresses situations in which children are separated from families and placed in orphanages or other residential institutions, often because of poverty, disability, or inadequate social services rather than because they have no family.
The charity changed its name to Lumos in 2010. The name refers to the light-producing spell in the Harry Potter stories, but the organization’s work is a real-world child-protection effort rather than a fictional project.
Rowling’s involvement grew from her concern about children living in institutions. Lumos has promoted family support, foster care, adoption, and community services as alternatives to large residential institutions. It is distinct from UK fundraising organizations such as Comic Relief and Children in Need.