This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused fundraising initiative, a two‑day event titled Save Point, scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026. The concept emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the organisation’s connection with the worldwide gaming community, a sector that has shown an increasing appetite for social impact projects. 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 charity drives—marathons, bake sales, and the like—are valuable, but they do not always resonate with younger, digitally‑savvy audiences who spend hours each week immersed in virtual worlds. "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," Baxter said. The charity has teamed up with popular online creator and livestreamer TheKapFantastic, who earlier in the year raised over £5,000 for Save the Children through his own channel. This partnership illustrates the growing trend of influencers leveraging their platforms for philanthropy. Baxter highlighted that the collaboration 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 brand‑new format for the charity, the team 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—from donation mechanics to audience engagement tactics—will inform future campaigns, potentially expanding into e‑sports tournaments, charity raids in massively multiplayer games, and collaborative in‑game items whose sales benefit the cause. Baxter praised gamers and streamers as "unsung heroes of fundraising" and emphasized that the gaming arena is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support.
She noted that many gamers share a love of storytelling, imagination, and escapism, which can be redirected toward real‑world change. "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 "The One Delivery That Matters" campaign, slated to launch in November 2026. The campaign aims to shift public attention from the usual festive gift‑giving narrative to the urgent needs of children who, instead of receiving presents, are awaiting essential supplies—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter—delivered during the Christmas period.
Baxter underscored this point, saying, "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 will feature a series of livestreams where participants can set up their own fundraising channels, engage their followers, and compete in gaming challenges that unlock donation milestones.
Viewers will have the ability to contribute directly through integrated donation buttons, purchase exclusive in‑game skins or virtual items whose proceeds go to the charity, and join chat‑driven activities that boost the overall fundraising total. The event’s structure is designed to be inclusive: both seasoned streamers and casual gamers can take part, making it a low‑barrier entry point for anyone who wants to combine their hobby with a good cause.
To join the initiative, interested individuals can register via the Save the Children website, where they will receive guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream, tips for maximizing audience interaction, and resources about the specific projects their donations will support. The organization plans to showcase the impact of the funds raised by providing real‑time updates on the number of children helped, the amount of food and medical supplies delivered, and stories from families who benefit from the campaign. By weaving together the excitement of gaming culture with the urgency of humanitarian aid, Save the Children hopes that Save Point will not only generate significant financial support but also cultivate a lasting community of gamers who view charitable giving as a natural extension of their online activities. The charity envisions future editions of Save Point evolving into larger, multi‑platform events that could involve collaborations with game developers, integration of charity‑focused game modes, and even dedicated charity servers where all in‑game transactions contribute to the cause.
In summary, Save Point represents a pioneering step for Save the Children into the digital entertainment sphere, leveraging the reach and enthusiasm of gamers and streamers to address the critical needs of children worldwide during the holiday season. The event promises to be an accessible, engaging, and impactful way for anyone with a love of games to make a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable children.
If you would like to take part, you can register your interest through the provided link and receive all the necessary information to set up your own fundraising livestream for Save Point.