J.K. Rowling founded the charity Lumos to help children living in institutions.
She established the organisation in 2005 under the name Children’s High Level Group, after becoming concerned about children separated from families and placed in orphanages or other residential institutions. It was renamed Lumos in 2010. The charity’s work focuses on family-based care, community services, and ending the institutionalisation of children.
Lumos is not a fictional organisation from the Harry Potter books, although its name echoes the Latin-derived magical spell “Lumos,” which produces light in the series. The charity’s name also reflects its aim of bringing hidden problems to public attention. Rowling has supported the organisation through charitable giving and public advocacy, while Lumos works internationally with governments and partners on child-protection reform.