This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused fundraiser, a two‑day streaming marathon called Save Point, scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026. The concept grew out of a broader ambition to deepen the organisation's connection with the worldwide gaming community, a sector that has increasingly demonstrated a willingness to mobilise its audiences for social good.
Fiona Baxter, the senior fundraising manager at Save the Children, told GamesIndustry.biz that the idea for Save Point "was born from a wider desire to engage more with the gaming community." She explained that traditional fundraising formats—marathons, bake sales, or gala dinners—while effective, do not always resonate with younger, digitally native supporters. "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," Baxter said.
By leveraging live streaming platforms, the charity hopes to lower the barrier to entry, enabling anyone with a computer, console, or even a mobile device to participate, donate, and spread the word. The charity has teamed up with popular content creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously raised more than £5,000 for Save the Children earlier in the year. This partnership is part of a strategic push to cultivate long‑term relationships with influential gamers and streamers.
Baxter emphasised that the event is just the beginning: "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 Save Point is a pilot initiative, the charity 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 added. The insights gathered will inform future campaigns, potentially expanding to larger tournaments, collaborative charity streams, and even in‑game charity items that generate ongoing revenue.
Baxter also highlighted the pivotal role that gamers and streamers play in modern philanthropy, calling them "the unsung heroes of fundraising." She noted that the gaming space is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support, driven by a community that values storytelling, imagination, and immersive experiences. "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 explained. Save Point is integrated into Save the Children's broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," which launches in November 2026.
The campaign aims to shift public attention from traditional holiday gifts to the essential supplies that many children will need this winter—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter. Baxter underscored the urgency: "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 event will feature a schedule of live gameplay sessions, charity auctions, and interactive challenges. Participants can register their interest through a dedicated landing page, which will also provide guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream, selecting donation platforms, and promoting the cause to their own audiences.
The charity plans to offer toolkits that include branding assets, suggested donation tiers, and talking points to help streamers communicate the mission effectively. Beyond the immediate fundraising goal, Save Point seeks to cultivate a sense of community among gamers who share a commitment to social impact. By fostering dialogue between charitable organisations and the gaming industry, Save the Children hopes to inspire more developers to embed charitable mechanics directly into games—such as in‑game purchases that trigger real‑world donations or seasonal events that raise awareness for humanitarian issues.
In the weeks leading up to the event, the charity will host a series of pre‑stream webinars and Q&A sessions with experts in both philanthropy and gaming. These sessions will cover best practices for ethical fundraising, ways to protect viewer data, and strategies for maintaining viewer engagement over long streaming periods.
The goal is to equip participants with the knowledge they need to run successful, transparent, and impactful streams. Overall, Save Point represents a bold experiment in merging entertainment with empathy. If successful, it could pave the way for a new generation of digital‑first charitable events, where the lines between play and purpose blur, and where the collective power of millions of gamers translates into tangible, life‑changing assistance for children in need.
To join the movement, interested individuals can sign up via the official Save Point registration page. Once registered, they will receive detailed instructions on how to set up their livestream, integrate donation widgets, and promote the event across social media channels. By participating, gamers not only stand to raise funds but also become ambassadors for a cause that seeks to ensure that no child goes without the basic necessities they deserve during the holiday season.