This holiday season, Save the Children is set to debut its very first gaming‑centric fundraising initiative, a live‑streamed event called Save Point. The concept emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the organization’s connection with the gaming 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." She highlighted that the event offers a new avenue for supporters who might not be able to take part in 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," Baxter explained. The event will be anchored by a collaboration with popular online content creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously helped raise over £5,000 for Save the Children earlier in the year.
This partnership exemplifies the charity’s strategy of leveraging established gaming personalities to amplify its message and broaden its donor base. Looking beyond the immediate fundraiser, Baxter emphasized the charity’s intention to nurture ongoing relationships with gamers and streamers.
"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‑focused fundraiser, the organization 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 scaling up the format to include larger tournaments, multi‑streamer collaborations, and even in‑game charity items. Baxter described gamers and streamers as the "unsung heroes of fundraising," noting that 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 immersive worlds, which can be harnessed for real‑world impact. "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 titled "The One Delivery That Matters," slated to launch in November 2026. This campaign aims to shift public attention from traditional holiday gifts to the essential supplies that many children desperately need during the festive season—items such as nutritious food, essential medicines, warm clothing, and safe sleeping arrangements.
Baxter underscored the urgency of this message: "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." By juxtaposing the convenience of modern e‑commerce with the stark reality of children awaiting basic necessities, the charity hopes to inspire a wave of compassionate giving. Save Point is scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026. Participants can sign up by registering their interest through the provided link, which will also supply guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream.
The charity encourages both seasoned streamers and newcomers to join, emphasizing that every broadcast—whether a few hours or an all‑night marathon—contributes to the collective goal. In addition to the live streams, the event will feature interactive elements such as donation milestones that unlock in‑game rewards, viewer challenges, and collaborative gameplay sessions where multiple creators team up to tackle popular titles.
These features are designed to keep audiences engaged, encourage repeat viewership, and maximize donation potential. Beyond the immediate financial impact, Save Point aims to foster a lasting sense of community among participants. By sharing stories of the children who benefit from the donations, the charity hopes to create an emotional connection that motivates ongoing support. Post‑event, Save the Children plans to publish a detailed impact report, outlining how the funds were allocated and the tangible differences made in children’s lives.
Overall, Save Point represents a pioneering step for Save the Children, blending the dynamic world of gaming with humanitarian outreach. By tapping into the passion, creativity, and generosity of gamers worldwide, the organization seeks to set a precedent for how charities can innovate fundraising in the digital age.