Lumos is the charity founded by J.K. Rowling to support children separated from their families.
Rowling founded the organization in 2005 under the name Children’s High Level Group. It was renamed Lumos in 2010, taking its name from a light-related spell in the Harry Potter stories. The charity works to end the institutionalization of children and promote family-based or community-based care.
Lumos focuses on children living in orphanages and other institutions, arguing that many are not orphans and could receive better support in families or local communities. Its work includes research, advocacy, and cooperation with governments and organizations in different countries.
The charity’s name can be confused with fictional wizarding terms because Rowling created the Harry Potter spell “Lumos,” which produces light. The real-world organization is a separate charitable body, though its name deliberately draws on that literary association.