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 senior fundraising manager Fiona Baxter, who spoke with GamesIndustry.biz. "Save Point was born out of a wider desire to engage more with the gaming community," Baxter said.
"It gives us a platform to interact with gamers and streamers both through formal partnerships and individual supporters. Not everyone can run a marathon or climb a mountain, so an event like this is far more inclusive and showcases the unique contributions that a different type of supporter can make." The charity has teamed up with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously generated 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 cultivate relationships with gamers, influencers and content creators after the event concludes. "It would be incredible to reach more people in this community with information about the work we do and why it matters," she explained.
"I’ll consider it a huge success if we walk away from this event with a new crew of supporters who might want to game for us again because of their experience with us." Because this is Save the Children’s first foray into a gaming‑centric fundraiser, the organization anticipates a steep learning curve. "There are also a lot of learning opportunities in this event. This is our first time doing this type of fundraiser, so the feedback we get will be invaluable and help us shape bigger and better gaming events year‑on‑year," Baxter added. Baxter described gamers and streamers as "the unsung heroes of fundraising" and highlighted that the gaming world is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support.
She noted that many gamers share a love of narrative, imagination and escapism, and that this passion can be harnessed for tangible, real‑world impact. "There is an understanding among game‑lovers that we are a group of people who love stories, imagination and escaping to new worlds through the power of play. By turning our love of gaming into a force for real‑world, lasting change, we're demonstrating just how powerful and impactful the gaming community can be," she said.
Save Point is a component of Save the Children’s broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," which launches in November 2026. The campaign aims to draw attention to the fact that, for millions of children worldwide, the most vital gifts this Christmas will not be toys or sweets but essential supplies such as food, medicine, warm clothing and safe shelter.
"Absolutely anything you could think of can be delivered right to your door at the tap of a screen," Baxter observed. "But for millions of children this Christmas, it’s not toys or treats they’re waiting for – it's the deliveries that will save lives and protect childhoods." The Save Point event is scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026.
Participants can sign up by registering their interest through the provided link, which will also supply guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream. Once registered, gamers can choose to stream their gameplay, host charity auctions, or run challenges that encourage viewers to donate directly to Save the Children.
The format is designed to be flexible. Whether a streamer prefers a marathon of a popular multiplayer title, a speed‑run of a narrative‑driven adventure, or a community‑focused charity tournament, the platform will support a variety of approaches.
This flexibility ensures that both seasoned content creators and casual hobbyists can contribute meaningfully. In addition to the live streams, Save the Children plans to incorporate interactive elements such as donation meters displayed on screen, real‑time updates on the amount raised, and special milestones that unlock surprise in‑game rewards or exclusive content from partner developers.
These gamified incentives aim to keep audiences engaged and motivated to give. Beyond the immediate fundraising goal, the event serves a strategic purpose: to embed the charity within the culture of gaming and to establish a pipeline of ongoing support. By showcasing the impact of gaming‑driven philanthropy, Save the Children hopes to inspire future collaborations, recurring donation streams, and perhaps even the development of custom in‑game items whose sales directly fund humanitarian projects. The organization also plans to collect data on viewer demographics, donation patterns, and engagement metrics.
This information will inform future campaigns, allowing the charity to refine its outreach tactics and better align with the preferences of the gaming audience. Overall, Save Point represents a bold experiment that merges the immersive, community‑centric world of gaming with the urgent humanitarian mission of Save the Children. By leveraging the reach and enthusiasm of gamers, the charity aims to deliver life‑saving supplies to children in need during the holiday season, while also building a lasting bridge between two seemingly disparate worlds. If you’re interested in joining the cause, you can register your intent to take part, receive technical support for setting up a livestream, and access promotional assets that help amplify your fundraising efforts.
Together, the gaming community and Save the Children hope to turn a season of celebration into a season of salvation for countless children around the globe.