Lumos is the charity founded by J.K. Rowling that was formerly called the Children’s High Level Group.
Rowling helped establish the Children’s High Level Group in 2005 with politician Emma Nicholson. The organization worked to improve the lives of children separated from their families and living in institutions across Europe. In 2010, it adopted the name Lumos, referring to the light-producing spell in the Harry Potter books.
Lumos campaigns for family-based care and against the unnecessary institutionalization of children. Its work has included research, advocacy, and support for reforms intended to keep children with families or in community-based care whenever possible.
The organization’s name is sometimes confused with other charitable causes associated with Rowling, including her children’s charity book publications and the Volant Charitable Trust. Lumos is a separate nonprofit organization with its own mission and programs. Rowling served as its founder and president for many years.