This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused fundraising initiative, a live‑streamed event dubbed Save Point. The concept emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the organisation’s connection with the video‑game community, a sector that has shown remarkable enthusiasm for charitable causes.
Fiona Baxter, the charity’s senior fundraising manager, shared with GamesIndustry.biz that Save Point was "born from a wider desire to engage more with the gaming community," signalling a strategic shift toward digital‑first outreach. Baxter emphasised that the event offers a more inclusive avenue for supporters compared with traditional physical challenges such as marathons. "Save Point is allowing us to engage more with the gaming community, both from a partnership and individual supporter perspective. 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 explained.
By tapping into the interactive and social nature of online gaming, the charity hopes to attract participants who might otherwise feel disconnected from conventional fundraising formats. The charity has teamed up with popular online content creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who has a proven track record of raising funds for Save the Children—having generated over £5,000 earlier in the year. This collaboration underscores the growing trend of influencers leveraging their platforms for social good.
Baxter noted that the partnership is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy: "It would be incredible to reach more people in this community with information about the work we do and why it's important. 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." Because this is Save the Children’s first foray into a gaming‑centric fundraiser, the organisation 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 said.
The data gathered—from viewer engagement metrics to donation patterns—will inform future campaigns, potentially scaling up to multi‑day tournaments or cross‑platform collaborations. Baxter praised gamers and streamers as "unsung heroes of fundraising," highlighting how the gaming ecosystem is "setting a new, innovative standard" for 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." Save Point forms part of the broader "The One Delivery That Matters" campaign, which launches in November 2026. This campaign seeks to shift public focus from consumerist holiday traditions toward the essential needs of children living in crisis. While many families anticipate gifts, millions of children worldwide will be awaiting critical deliveries—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter—rather than toys. Baxter articulated this contrast poignantly: "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 Save Point event is scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026. Over the two‑day window, participants can join live streams, compete in charity‑focused gaming challenges, and encourage their audiences to donate directly through integrated platforms. The event will feature a blend of popular titles, from competitive shooters to cooperative adventure games, ensuring broad appeal across different gamer demographics. Viewers will have the option to contribute via clickable donation widgets, with real‑time progress bars displaying fundraising milestones.
To get involved, interested individuals can sign up through a dedicated registration page, which provides guidance on setting up a personal fundraising livestream. This includes tips on selecting the right hardware, optimizing stream quality, and crafting compelling narratives that connect gameplay moments with the charity’s mission. The platform also offers resources for promoting the stream across social media channels, maximizing reach and potential contributions.
Beyond the immediate fundraising goal, Save Point aims to cultivate a lasting community of gaming advocates for Save the Children. By providing a positive, collaborative experience, the charity hopes to convert casual participants into long‑term ambassadors who will champion future initiatives. The event also serves as a proof of concept for integrating entertainment and altruism, demonstrating that digital leisure activities can be harnessed for significant social impact. In summary, Save Point represents a pioneering step for Save the Children, marrying the immersive world of video games with the urgent need to deliver life‑saving resources to children during the holiday season.
Through strategic partnerships, innovative fundraising mechanics, and a commitment to learning and growth, the charity is poised to set a new benchmark for how nonprofits engage with the vibrant gaming community.