This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑centric and live‑streaming fundraiser, a venture they have christened "Save Point." The initiative, slated for December 5‑6, 2026, is designed to harness the enthusiasm and reach of the gaming community to raise both awareness and funds for children in need during the festive period. Fiona Baxter, the organisation’s senior fundraising manager, shared with GamesIndustry.biz that the concept of Save Point emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the charity’s connection with gamers.
"Save Point was born out of a wider desire to engage more with the gaming community," she explained. "It gives us a platform to interact with gamers not only through formal partnerships but also via individual supporters who may not be able to take part in traditional fundraising activities like marathons. This format is far more inclusive and showcases the diverse ways people can contribute." The event will feature a collaboration with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously helped the charity raise over £5,000 earlier in the year.
Baxter emphasised that the partnership is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy to cultivate relationships with gamers and content creators beyond the two‑day window. "It would be incredible to reach more people in this community with information about the work we do and why it matters," she said.
"I’ll consider it a massive success if we walk away with a fresh crew of supporters who want to game for us again because of the experience they’ve had." Because this is Save the Children’s first foray into a gaming‑focused fundraiser, the team anticipates a steep learning curve. "There are a lot of learning opportunities in this event.
Being our inaugural attempt, the feedback we receive will be invaluable and will help us shape bigger and better gaming events year after year," Baxter added. Baxter also highlighted the often‑overlooked role that gamers and streamers play in charitable fundraising, describing them as "unsung heroes of fundraising." She noted that the gaming sector is "setting a new, innovative standard" for how charitable causes can be supported. "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 key component of Save the Children’s broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," which launches in November 2026. The campaign aims to shift the focus of the holiday season from material gifts to essential deliveries that can truly make a difference in children’s lives—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter.
Baxter underscored this point, stating, "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." Participants in Save Point will be able to register their interest via a dedicated link, after which they will receive guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream. The charity expects a mix of solo streamers, gaming teams, and collaborative events that will encourage viewers to donate directly through integrated platforms.
By leveraging the interactivity of live streams—chat polls, donation goals, and real‑time challenges—the event aims to create a dynamic fundraising environment where every contribution feels immediate and impactful. Beyond the immediate financial goal, Save Point seeks to build a sustainable pipeline of gaming‑related philanthropy.
The charity hopes that the relationships forged during this inaugural event will evolve into recurring collaborations, mentorship programmes for aspiring charity streamers, and even co‑created in‑game items whose sales support humanitarian projects. Baxter envisions a future where gaming and charity are seamlessly intertwined, saying, "We want to move beyond one‑off events and embed charitable giving into the everyday fabric of gaming culture." The timing of the event—just before the peak of the holiday shopping season—allows Save the Children to tap into the heightened spirit of generosity that characterises December.
By offering an alternative way to give, the charity hopes to capture donors who might otherwise spend on consumer goods, redirecting that goodwill toward essential supplies for children facing hardship. In summary, Save Point represents an ambitious experiment that merges the digital playground of gaming with the real‑world mission of protecting vulnerable children. Through strategic partnerships, innovative fundraising mechanics, and a clear message about the importance of essential deliveries over material gifts, Save the Children aims to set a precedent for how charities can engage with the rapidly growing gaming audience.
The event promises not only to raise vital funds but also to inspire a new generation of gamers to view their passion as a catalyst for positive change.