What was the original name of the charity that J.K. Rowling founded in 2005 and that later became Lumos?

The charity J.K. Rowling founded in 2005 was originally called the Children’s High Level Group before becoming Lumos.

Rowling established the organization with Member of the European Parliament Emma Nicholson. Its early work focused on improving the lives of children separated from their families, including children living in institutions across Europe. The group worked to influence policy and encourage family-based care.

The organization changed its name to Lumos in 2010. The new name refers to a light-producing spell in the Harry Potter books, but the charity’s practical mission is child protection and deinstitutionalisation. Lumos campaigns for systems that support children within families and communities rather than large residential institutions.

The name is sometimes misremembered as the title of a Rowling foundation or as a Harry Potter fan charity. Lumos is an independent international organization whose work concerns children’s rights, social care, and family-based alternatives to institutional care.