Lumos (charity) facts for kids
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| Formation | 2005 (relaunched as Lumos in 2010) |
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| Type | NGO/Charity |
| Purpose | Children/young people's welfare; health/education/social care; family support |
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Region served
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Global |
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Founder and president
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J. K. Rowling |
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Main organ
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Board of Trustees, chaired by Carol Copland |
Lumos is a special charity that works to help children all over the world. It was started by J. K. Rowling, the famous author who wrote the Harry Potter books. Lumos wants to make sure that children grow up in loving families, not in large institutions like orphanages.
Contents
Lumos: Helping Kids Worldwide
How Lumos Started
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In 2004, J. K. Rowling read a newspaper story. It was about children with disabilities living in very poor conditions. This made her want to help.
So, in 2005, she and Emma Nicholson started a group. It was first called the Children's High Level Group (CHLG).
The Name Lumos
The charity's name changed a few times. For a short while, it was called The Children's Voice. But they had to change it back because that name was already used by another group in the US.
In 2010, the charity got its current name, Lumos. This name comes from a magic spell in the Harry Potter books. The "Lumos" spell makes light appear at the end of a wizard's wand. It's a symbol of bringing light and hope to children's lives.
J. K. Rowling stopped being a trustee in 2013. But she still leads the charity as its president.
Making a Difference for Children
Lumos works with other groups to help children. They talk to important organizations like the European Commission. This group helps guide countries in Europe.
Lumos encourages them to use money wisely. They want funds to help children live in families and communities. They do not want money to be used for building or fixing large institutions.
Because of Lumos's efforts, a lot of money has been used differently. Over €367 million (that's a lot of money!) has gone to help children in communities. This means more children can live in loving homes.
Who Leads Lumos?
Lumos has a team of people who help run the charity. They make sure Lumos stays focused on its mission.
Key Leaders at Lumos
Peter McDermott became the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) in June 2021. The CEO helps manage the charity every day.
Carol Copland is the Chair of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is a group of people who guide Lumos. They make big decisions for the charity.
Other Important People
Many other people help Lumos. These include Billy DiMichele from Scholastic, a big book publisher. Other trustees are Tanya Motie, Neena Gill CBE, Nick Pasricha, Dr Doreen Mulenga, Kate Wills, Jimmy Paul, and Usman Ali.
There is also a special board for Lumos in the USA. Billy DiMichele leads this board. Leslie Little and Liz Robbins are also members. All these people work together to help Lumos achieve its goals for children.
