This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused fundraising initiative, a live‑streamed event titled Save Point. The concept emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the organization’s connection with the gaming community, according to Fiona Baxter, the charity’s senior fundraising manager, who spoke with GamesIndustry.biz. Baxur explained that Save Point is designed to open new pathways for engagement, both through brand partnerships and individual supporters. "Not everyone has the stamina or time to run a marathon, so an event like this is far more inclusive and showcases the impact that a different kind of participant can have," she said.
By leveraging the interactive nature of video games and live streaming, the charity hopes to reach audiences who might not otherwise encounter its work. The event will be anchored by a collaboration with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, a figure who already has a track record of supporting the charity – having raised more than £5,000 for Save the Children earlier in the year. Baxter emphasized that the partnership is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy to nurture relationships with gamers, influencers, and their audiences beyond the two‑day window of the fundraiser. "If we can introduce more people in this community to the mission we carry out and why it matters, that would be a massive win," she said.
"I’ll consider the event a success if we walk away with a fresh crew of supporters who want to keep gaming for us because of the experience they’ve had." Because this is Save the Children’s first foray into a gaming‑centric fundraiser, Baxter highlighted the learning curve involved. "There are a lot of learning opportunities embedded in this event.
The feedback we collect will be priceless and will help us design even bigger and better gaming‑based campaigns in the years to come," she added. Describing gamers and streamers as "the unsung heroes of fundraising," Baxter pointed out that the gaming world is beginning to set a "new, innovative standard" for charitable giving. She noted that many gamers share a love of narrative, imagination, and the escape that interactive play provides. By channeling that passion into tangible, real‑world change, the sector can demonstrate just how influential and effective it can be when aligned with a cause.
Save Point forms part of the broader "The One Delivery That Matters" campaign, slated to launch in November 2026. The campaign aims to shift the focus of the holiday season from material gifts to essential supplies for children in need.
Baxter explained that for millions of youngsters, the most critical deliveries this December will be food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter—not toys or confectionery. "Anything you can imagine can be delivered to your doorstep with a tap of a screen," she remarked, underscoring the contrast between the convenience of modern e‑commerce and the stark reality faced by children awaiting lifesaving aid. "But for these children, the deliveries they need are the ones that will preserve their health and protect their childhoods." Save Point is scheduled to run on December 5 and 6, 2026. Participants can sign up through a dedicated registration page, where they will receive guidance on setting up their own fundraising livestreams, choosing donation targets, and promoting their streams to their own follower bases.
The charity will provide resources such as branding assets, suggested talking points, and technical support to help creators maximize their impact. The event’s format will blend competitive gaming sessions, charity auctions, and interactive challenges, all streamed live on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Viewers will be able to donate in real time, with progress bars displayed on screen to show how close each streamer is to their personal goal. Special milestones will trigger surprise giveaways, further incentivising audience participation.
In addition to TheKapFantastic, Save the Children is reaching out to a diverse roster of influencers across genres—ranging from indie game developers to esports teams—to ensure a broad appeal. The organization hopes that by showcasing a variety of gaming experiences, they can attract both casual players and hardcore enthusiasts. Beyond the immediate fundraising aims, Save Point is intended to serve as a proof of concept for future collaborations between the nonprofit sector and the gaming industry. Baxter envisions a pipeline where charities can regularly tap into the creativity, reach, and community spirit that gamers bring, turning entertainment into a sustainable engine for social good.
The charity also plans to publish a post‑event report detailing the total amount raised, the allocation of funds to specific programmes—such as emergency nutrition kits, winter clothing drives, and medical supply shipments—and the lessons learned about audience engagement. This transparency is meant to build trust and encourage repeat participation in subsequent gaming‑based campaigns. Overall, Save Point represents a strategic pivot for Save the Children, marrying the immersive power of video games with the urgency of its humanitarian mission. By inviting gamers to transform their love of play into concrete assistance for vulnerable children, the charity hopes to set a precedent for how digital culture can be harnessed for lasting, positive change.