This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused fundraising initiative, dubbed Save Point. The new event merges the excitement of video games with the power of live streaming to raise money for children in need, and it represents a strategic move by the organization to deepen its ties with the vibrant gaming community.
Fiona Baxter, the senior fundraising manager at Save the Children, shared her vision with GamesIndustry.biz, noting that Save Point emerged from a broader ambition to connect more meaningfully with gamers. "Save Point is allowing us to engage more with the gaming community, both from a partnership and individual supporter perspective," Baxter said. She highlighted that traditional fundraising activities—such as marathon runs—can be physically demanding and exclude many potential donors. "Not everyone can run a marathon, so an event like this is a lot more accessible and allows us to showcase what a different type of supporter can do," she added.
The charity has teamed up with popular online content creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously helped raise over £5,000 for Save the Children earlier in the year. This partnership illustrates the organization’s commitment to leveraging established influencer relationships to amplify its message. Baxter emphasized that the collaboration is just the beginning; the charity hopes to nurture ongoing connections with gamers and streamers long after the two‑day event concludes.
"It would be incredible to reach more people in this community with information about the work we do and why it's important," she explained. "I will 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." In other words, the goal is not merely a one‑off donation spike but the cultivation of a lasting supporter base that can be mobilised for future campaigns. Baxter also pointed out the educational value of the initiative.
"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." By treating Save Point as a pilot, the charity can refine its approach, experiment with different streaming formats, and discover which types of content resonate most with donors. The senior manager described gamers and streamers as the "unsung heroes of fundraising" and praised the gaming sector for "setting a new, innovative standard" in charitable support.
She elaborated on the cultural synergy between gaming and philanthropy: "There is an understanding between 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." This sentiment underscores the belief that the narrative‑driven nature of games can be harnessed to tell compelling stories about humanitarian needs, thereby motivating viewers to contribute. Save Point is a key component of Save the Children’s broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," slated for launch in November 2026. The campaign seeks to shift public focus from material gifts to essential supplies that children in crisis require during the festive season—items such as nutritious food, vital medicines, warm clothing, and safe shelter.
Baxter illustrated the contrast with a vivid analogy: "Absolutely anything you could think of can be delivered right to your door at the tap of a screen. 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 event itself is scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026. Over the two days, participating streamers will broadcast live gameplay, host charity auctions, and encourage viewers to donate via integrated fundraising tools. Viewers will have the option to set personal fundraising targets, create donation links, and even organize mini‑competitions among themselves to boost contributions.
The platform will feature real‑time progress bars, leaderboards, and thank‑you messages to keep the audience engaged and informed about the impact of their generosity. To join Save Point, individuals can register their interest through a dedicated sign‑up page.
Once registered, participants receive a comprehensive guide covering technical setup, best practices for engaging an audience, and tips for maximizing fundraising potential. The guide also includes suggestions for integrating game‑related challenges—such as speed‑run attempts or charity‑themed in‑game events—to make the streams more entertaining and donation‑friendly.
Beyond the immediate financial goals, Save Point aims to foster a sense of community among gamers who share a common purpose: using their passion for play to help vulnerable children worldwide. By aligning the excitement of gaming with the urgency of humanitarian aid, Save the Children hopes to demonstrate that digital entertainment can be a powerful catalyst for real‑world change. The organization plans to publish a post‑event report detailing total funds raised, participant numbers, and key insights gathered from the experience, which will inform the design of future gaming‑centric fundraisers.
In summary, Save Point represents an innovative blend of entertainment and altruism, positioning the gaming world as a vital ally in the fight to protect children’s futures. Through strategic partnerships, thoughtful storytelling, and a commitment to learning, Save the Children is setting a precedent for how charities can harness the energy of online communities to deliver life‑saving aid during the most generous time of the year.