Jingle Jam Aims to Unite 1,000 Streamers for Charity Event

In the early 2010s, Lewis Brindley and Simon Lane rose to fame with their entertaining Minecraft videos on YouTube, becoming unexpected internet celebrities through their channel, The Yogscast. As Christmas 2011 approached, they started receiving gifts from fans, which made them feel a bit embarrassed. They decided to redirect the attention to charity, setting up a JustGiving page and linking it to an Oxfam charity drive, resulting in a significant amount of donations. This marked the beginning of Jingle Jam. Initially, it was just a few jokes and references, but by 2013, Yogscast began collecting games to give to donors who contributed above a certain amount. This strategy paid off, with $1 million raised that year. In 2021, Jingle Jam expanded beyond The Yogscast channel, with numerous streamers participating in online streams to support the cause. The event became a registered charity in 2022, focusing on improving the lives of children and young people. In 2023, the funds raised supported 20,000 young people contemplating suicide, provided digital learning to 120,000 children affected by the war in Ukraine, and more. With a total of £25 million raised in its history, Jingle Jam hopes to involve over 1,000 streamers this year, with 500 already signed up. The charity drive will feature prominent streamers like TommyInnit, Talia Mar, and Tubbo, as well as events with Sega, Curve Games, and Fireshine. This year, Jingle Jam will focus on eight charities, including CALM and Warchild, which will be part of the event for three years. The Game Collection will be smaller but with higher-profile titles to attract more donors. The first game announced is Sega's Two Point Campus, with more titles coming from Fireshine Games, Kepler Interactive, and Chucklefish. With millions of people tuning in every year, Jingle Jam aims to raise £5 million annually for the eight charities over the next three years, with a long-term goal of raising £10 million. The charity acknowledges the challenging fundraising market but remains ambitious, seeking to make a significant impact on the lives of children and young people.