This holiday season, Save the Children is set to debut its very first game‑focused and livestream‑driven fundraiser, an event christened Save Point. The initiative represents a strategic move to tap into the vibrant world of video games and online streaming, offering a fresh avenue for supporters to contribute to the organization’s mission. Fiona Baxter, the charity’s senior fundraising manager, shared with GamesIndustry.biz that the concept for Save Point emerged from a broader ambition to deepen engagement with gamers and the wider gaming community. "Save Point was born out of a wider desire to engage more with the gaming community," she explained, emphasizing that the charity sees this sector as an untapped reservoir of enthusiastic, tech‑savvy donors.
According to Baxter, the event is designed to be inclusive and accessible, providing an alternative to traditional fundraising challenges such as marathon runs. "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 said.
By leveraging the interactive nature of gaming and the reach of livestream platforms, Save Point aims to attract participants who might not otherwise be involved in charitable activities. A key partnership for the event is with popular online content creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who has previously demonstrated his fundraising prowess by raising over £5,000 for Save the Children earlier in the year.
This collaboration underscores the charity’s commitment to building lasting relationships with influential figures in the gaming space. Baxter highlighted the long‑term vision behind the partnership, noting that Save the Children hopes to maintain and expand these connections well beyond the two‑day event. "It would be incredible to reach more people in this community with information about the work we do and why it's important," she remarked.
"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." The charity also anticipates a wealth of learning opportunities stemming from this inaugural effort. "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. The insights gathered will inform future campaigns, potentially scaling up the model to reach even larger audiences. Describing gamers and streamers as "unsung heroes of fundraising," Baxter praised the gaming community for its emerging role in philanthropy.
She observed that the sector is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support, blending entertainment with purpose. "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," she said. Save Point is integrated into Save the Children’s broader campaign titled "The One Delivery That Matters," slated to launch in November 2026.
The campaign seeks to shift public attention from traditional holiday gifts to the essential supplies that many children desperately need during the festive season. While many families anticipate presents, millions of children are awaiting life‑saving deliveries such as nutritious food, essential medicines, warm clothing, and safe shelter.
Baxter underscored this stark contrast, noting, "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." By aligning the excitement of gaming with the urgency of humanitarian aid, the charity hopes to mobilize a new demographic of donors.
The Save Point event is scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026. Participants can register their interest through a dedicated link, which will also provide guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream. Once registered, gamers can choose to host their own streams, invite friends to donate, or join collaborative gaming sessions where all proceeds are funneled directly to Save the Children’s emergency relief efforts. In practice, the event will feature a mix of live gameplay, interactive challenges, and real‑time donation trackers displayed on the stream.
Viewers will be encouraged to contribute by unlocking in‑game rewards, sponsoring specific milestones, or simply donating to support the cause. The charity plans to highlight success stories throughout the broadcast, showcasing how each contribution translates into tangible aid for children in need.
Beyond the immediate fundraising goal, Save Point aims to cultivate a lasting community of gaming‑oriented philanthropists. By offering a platform where entertainment meets empathy, the charity hopes to inspire ongoing support, encouraging participants to return for future events or to integrate charitable giving into their regular streaming schedules. Overall, Save the Children’s foray into the gaming arena reflects a broader trend of nonprofits embracing digital culture to reach younger, tech‑savvy audiences. As the lines between leisure and activism continue to blur, initiatives like Save Point illustrate how creative fundraising can both entertain and effect meaningful change, turning the joy of play into a powerful engine for humanitarian impact.