This holiday season, Save the Children is set to debut 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 organization’s connection with the gaming community, a demographic that has shown increasing enthusiasm for social impact projects. 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." She emphasized that the event offers a fresh avenue for supporters who might not be able to take part in traditional physical challenges such as marathons. "Save Point allows 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 explained. The charity has teamed up with well‑known online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously raised over £5,000 for Save the Children earlier in the year.
This partnership exemplifies the kind of collaborative spirit the organization hopes to foster: content creators leveraging their platforms to mobilize audiences for a cause. Baxter noted that the relationship with TheKapFantastic 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," she said. "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 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 technical logistics to audience engagement tactics—will inform future campaigns, potentially expanding the scope to larger tournaments, charity e‑sports leagues, or collaborative in‑game events with major developers. Baxter praised gamers and streamers as the "unsung heroes of fundraising," highlighting how the gaming sector is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support. She pointed out that many gamers share a love of narrative, imagination, and escapism, traits that can be channeled into tangible social 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 said. Save Point is integrated into Save the Children’s broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," which launches in November 2026. The campaign seeks to shift public focus from the typical festive gifts to the essential items that many children around the world will be waiting for this Christmas—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter.
Baxter underscored the stark contrast between consumer expectations and urgent needs: "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 live streams, gaming marathons, and interactive challenges.
Participants can sign up as individual fundraisers, creating personal donation pages that link directly to the charity’s platform. Throughout the two days, streamers will host gameplay sessions, engage with chat, and encourage viewers to donate.
Special milestones—such as reaching a certain donation threshold—will trigger surprise in‑game rewards, exclusive content drops, or real‑world acknowledgments for top contributors. In addition to direct fundraising, the event aims to educate viewers about the specific programmes Save the Children runs in crisis‑affected regions.
Short documentary clips, interviews with field workers, and live Q&A sessions will be interwoven with the gaming action, providing context for why each contribution matters. By marrying entertainment with advocacy, Save Point hopes to cultivate a more informed and committed donor base. The charity also plans to leverage the event to forge longer‑term partnerships with game developers.
Potential collaborations could include limited‑edition in‑game items whose sales benefit the organization, or co‑branded virtual experiences that raise awareness about child welfare issues. These initiatives would extend the impact of Save Point far beyond the initial 48‑hour window. For anyone interested in joining the effort, registration is straightforward.
Participants can register their interest through the Save the Children website, where they will receive a toolkit containing guidelines for setting up a fundraising livestream, tips on audience engagement, and technical support contacts. The toolkit also includes branding assets, suggested donation tiers, and story prompts to help creators convey the mission effectively. In summary, Save Point represents a pioneering step for Save the Children, merging the vibrant world of gaming with the urgent mission of delivering life‑saving aid to children in need. By tapping into the creativity, reach, and generosity of gamers and streamers, the charity hopes to set a precedent for future digital‑first fundraising models, proving that play can indeed be a powerful catalyst for real‑world change.