What was the name of J.K. Rowling’s charity for disadvantaged children before it became Lumos?

Before becoming Lumos, J.K. Rowling’s charity for disadvantaged children was called the Children’s High Level Group.

Rowling helped establish the organization in 2005 with Emma Nicholson, a member of the European Parliament. Its early work focused on children separated from their families and placed in institutions, especially in Europe. The group advocated family-based care and challenged the idea that institutional settings were the best solution for vulnerable children.

In 2010, the organization adopted the name Lumos. The new name came from the Harry Potter books, where “lumos” is a wand-lighting spell. The charity’s work, however, is real-world child welfare rather than fictional magic: it seeks to end the institutionalization of children and support families and communities.

A common mix-up is treating Lumos as a fictional Harry Potter organization. It is a real charity founded with Rowling’s involvement, while its name is inspired by the magical series.