This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its debut gaming‑centric fundraiser, a two‑day event titled Save Point, scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026. The initiative merges live‑streamed gameplay with traditional charitable giving, inviting both seasoned gamers and casual players to contribute to a cause that affects millions of children worldwide. Fiona Baxter, the organization’s senior fundraising manager, shared with GamesIndustry.biz that the concept for Save Point emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the charity’s connection with the gaming community. "We wanted a platform where we could interact with gamers not just as donors but as partners," Baxter explained.
"Many people can’t run a marathon or climb a mountain, but everyone can pick up a controller. This format makes participation far more inclusive and showcases the unique impact that a different kind of supporter can have." To give the event a strong digital presence, Save the Children has teamed up with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously generated more than £5,000 for the charity earlier in the year. The partnership is designed to leverage the streamer’s existing audience while also attracting new viewers who may be unfamiliar with the organization’s work. Baxter emphasized that the charity hopes the collaboration will be the first of many ongoing relationships with gamers, influencers, and streaming platforms.
"If we can reach a larger segment of this community and educate them about the projects we run and why they matter, we’ll have taken a major step forward," she said. "A successful outcome for us would be walking away with a fresh cohort of supporters who are eager to log in and play for Save the Children again, simply because of the positive experience they had during Save Point." Because this is Save Children’s maiden venture into a gaming‑driven fundraiser, the team anticipates a steep learning curve.
"There’s a wealth of insight to be gained from this pilot," Baxter noted. "The feedback we collect will be priceless, helping us refine and scale up future gaming events, making them bigger, better, and more impactful year after year." Baxter also praised gamers and streamers as the "unsung heroes of fundraising," observing that the gaming sphere is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support. She highlighted a shared cultural ethos among gamers: a love of storytelling, imagination, and immersive worlds.
"When we channel that passion into tangible, real‑world change, we illustrate just how powerful the gaming community can be," she added. Save Point forms a key component of Save the Children’s broader "The One Delivery That Matters" campaign, which launches in November 2026. The campaign seeks to shift public focus from material gifts to essential deliveries that children in crisis need during the festive period—items such as nutritious food, life‑saving medicines, warm clothing, and safe shelter.
Baxter underscored this point, stating, "Anything you can order online can arrive at a doorstep with a tap, but for millions of children this Christmas, it isn’t toys they’re awaiting—it’s the deliveries that will preserve their health and protect their childhoods." The event’s structure is straightforward yet flexible. Participants can sign up via a dedicated registration portal, where they will receive guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream, selecting donation targets, and promoting their streams across social media.
Throughout the two‑day window, streamers will broadcast gameplay ranging from popular multiplayer titles to indie adventures, interspersed with live updates on fundraising totals and stories from children who benefit from the donations. In addition to the primary fundraising goal, Save Point aims to cultivate a sense of community among participants. Interactive features such as donation leaderboards, collaborative challenges, and viewer‑driven polls will encourage audience engagement and foster a shared sense of purpose. The charity also plans to spotlight specific projects—like school‑feeding programs in conflict zones or winter coat distributions in cold climates—providing donors with concrete examples of how their contributions translate into immediate aid.
By integrating gaming culture with humanitarian outreach, Save the Children hopes to demonstrate that philanthropy can adapt to contemporary digital habits. "The gaming world is massive and increasingly mainstream," Baxter observed. "By meeting people where they spend their leisure time, we make giving feel natural and enjoyable, rather than an obligation." As the December dates approach, the organization urges anyone interested in merging their love of games with a meaningful cause to register their interest.
Those who sign up will receive detailed instructions on technical setup, best practices for engaging audiences, and tips for maximizing donation potential. Whether a seasoned streamer with thousands of followers or a newcomer eager to try their hand at live broadcasting, Save Point offers a platform to turn pixels into real‑world impact. In summary, Save Point represents a pioneering effort by Save the Children to harness the enthusiasm, creativity, and reach of the gaming community for charitable good. By offering an accessible, entertaining, and purpose‑driven experience, the event aspires to generate vital resources for children in need while establishing a replicable model for future gaming‑based fundraisers.