This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused fundraising initiative, dubbed "Save Point." The event merges video‑game play, live streaming, and charitable giving into a single, accessible experience designed to attract a broader audience beyond traditional marathon‑style fundraisers. Fiona Baxter, the organisation’s senior fundraising manager, shared with GamesIndustry.biz that the concept for Save Point emerged from a growing ambition to deepen the charity’s connection with the gaming community. "We wanted a platform where both established partners and individual gamers could contribute in a way that feels natural to them," Baxter explained. "Not everyone can commit to running a marathon, but many people can spend a few hours gaming or streaming, making this format far more inclusive and allowing us to showcase a different kind of supporter in action." The charity has teamed up with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who earlier this year helped raise more than £5,000 for Save the Children through his own channel.
This partnership illustrates the potential of influencer‑driven campaigns to mobilise audiences around a common cause. Baxter emphasized that the collaboration is just the beginning: "Our goal is to continue cultivating relationships with gamers, streamers, and their followers long after the event ends. If we can turn this one‑off fundraiser into a lasting network of supporters who choose to game for us again, we’ll have achieved a major milestone." According to Baxter, the event also offers a wealth of learning opportunities. "Because this is our first venture into a gaming‑centric fundraiser, the feedback we gather will be priceless.
It will help us refine the format and scale up future events, making each iteration bigger and more impactful than the last," she said. She described gamers and streamers as "the unsung heroes of fundraising," noting that the gaming arena is "setting a new, innovative standard" for how charitable causes can be championed.
She added, "There’s a shared understanding among game‑lovers that we are a community driven by stories, imagination, and the desire to escape into new worlds. By channeling that passion into tangible, real‑world change, we demonstrate just how powerful and influential the gaming community can be." Save Point forms a key part of Save the Children’s broader "The One Delivery That Matters" campaign, scheduled to launch in November 2026. The campaign aims to shift public attention from conventional holiday gifts to the essential supplies that many children desperately need during the festive season—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter.
Baxter highlighted this contrast, stating, "Anything you can imagine can be delivered to a doorstep with a tap on a screen. But for millions of children this Christmas, it isn’t toys or sweets they’re hoping for—it’s the life‑saving deliveries that will protect their childhoods." The two‑day event will run from December 5 to December 6, 2026. Participants can sign up through a dedicated registration page, where they will receive guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream, tips for engaging viewers, and resources to promote the cause effectively.
By broadcasting their gameplay and encouraging donations in real time, streamers can turn entertainment into a powerful fundraising engine. Beyond the immediate financial goal, Save Point seeks to foster a sense of community among gamers who share a common purpose. The event will feature interactive challenges, leaderboards, and special in‑game rewards unlocked through collective donation milestones. These gamified elements are designed to keep audiences engaged, encourage friendly competition, and amplify the overall impact.
In addition to the primary fundraiser, Save the Children plans to produce a series of behind‑the‑scenes videos and interviews with participating creators, highlighting personal stories of children who benefit from the campaign’s deliveries. This narrative approach aims to humanise the statistics, giving donors a clear picture of how their contributions translate into real‑world outcomes. Baxter concluded with a forward‑looking statement: "If we walk away from Save Point with a new crew of supporters eager to game for us again, we’ll consider it a huge success. More importantly, the insights we gain will shape larger, more ambitious gaming events in the years to come, reinforcing the idea that play can be a catalyst for lasting, positive change." Save Point represents a pioneering step for Save the Children, blending the immersive world of gaming with the urgent need to deliver essential aid to vulnerable children worldwide.
By leveraging the enthusiasm and reach of the gaming community, the charity hopes to turn virtual victories into real‑life triumphs for those who need them most.