This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused fundraiser, an event dubbed Save Point, which will blend video‑game play with live‑streamed fundraising activities. The initiative is scheduled for the weekend of December 5‑6, 2026, and aims to tap into the enthusiasm of the global gaming community to generate vital support for children in need.
Fiona Baxter, the organisation’s senior fundraising manager, told GamesIndustry.biz that the concept for Save Point emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the charity’s relationship with gamers. “We wanted a way to connect with the gaming world that felt authentic and inclusive,” Baxter explained. “Not everyone can sign up for a marathon or a long‑distance bike ride, but many people can sit down at a console or PC and stream their gameplay.
Save Point gives us that accessible entry point and showcases a different kind of supporter – one who can turn a hobby into a powerful fundraising engine.” The event will be anchored by a partnership with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously helped the charity raise more than £5,000 earlier in the year. Baxter emphasized that this collaboration is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy to forge lasting bonds with gamers, influencers, and their audiences.
“If we can walk away from this weekend with a new crew of supporters who are excited to game for us again, that would be a massive win,” she said. “Our goal is to keep the conversation going long after the livestream ends, turning one‑off donors into a community of repeat champions.” Because Save Point is a brand‑new format for the charity, Baxter highlighted the learning potential embedded in the event. “We’re gathering real‑time feedback on what works, what doesn’t, and how we can scale up future gaming‑centric fundraisers,” she noted. “Each insight will help us design bigger, more impactful experiences year after year.” Baxter also praised gamers and streamers as “the unsung heroes of fundraising,” pointing out that the gaming sector is beginning to set a fresh, innovative benchmark for charitable support.
She described the culture of gaming as one built around storytelling, imagination, and escapism, and argued that these same qualities can be harnessed to drive tangible, life‑changing outcomes. “When we channel our love of play into real‑world impact, we demonstrate just how powerful the gaming community can be,” she said.
Save Point forms part of the wider "The One Delivery That Matters" campaign, which launches in November 2026. The campaign seeks to shift public attention from traditional holiday gifts to the essential items that many children will need to survive the winter months—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter. Baxter underscored this message during the interview, noting that while many people can order a toy with a click, millions of children are waiting for deliveries that could literally save their lives.
“For these kids, it isn’t a game console or a candy bar they’re hoping for; it’s a warm coat, a dose of medicine, or a safe place to sleep,” she said. “Our job is to make sure those deliveries reach them, and we’re using the power of gaming to amplify that effort.” To join Save Point, participants are invited to register their interest through the charity’s website.
Once signed up, they will receive guidance on how to set up a fundraising livestream, choose a platform (such as Twitch, YouTube Gaming, or Facebook Gaming), and promote their event to friends, followers, and fellow gamers. The charity will provide promotional assets, donation links, and real‑time progress trackers so that streamers can display fundraising milestones during their broadcasts. The structure of the weekend will feature a mix of solo and collaborative streams, charity‑run gaming tournaments, and special in‑game challenges designed to unlock additional donations from corporate partners.
For example, a sponsor might pledge a fixed amount for every 1,000 viewers reached, or for each completed level in a featured game. These incentive layers are intended to keep audiences engaged and encourage higher donation totals. Beyond the immediate financial goal, Save Point aims to raise awareness about the broader challenges facing children in conflict zones, climate‑affected regions, and impoverished communities. By weaving storytelling about these issues into the livestream commentary, streamers can educate viewers while they play, creating an emotional connection that often translates into more generous giving.
The charity hopes that the success of Save Point will inspire other non‑profits to explore similar gaming‑centric fundraising models. “We’re at the frontier of a new fundraising landscape,” Baxter concluded.
“If we can prove that a weekend of gaming can deliver meaningful support to children in crisis, we’ll have set a precedent that others can follow, ultimately expanding the reach and impact of charitable work across the digital age."