This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused fundraising campaign, a live‑streamed event dubbed "Save Point." The initiative, scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026, merges the excitement of video games with the charitable spirit of the festive period, inviting gamers, streamers, and supporters from around the globe to rally behind a cause that affects millions of children worldwide. Fiona Baxter, the organization’s senior fundraising manager, shared with GamesIndustry.biz that the concept for Save Point emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the charity’s connection with the gaming community.
"Save Point was born out of a wider desire to engage more with the gaming community," Baxter explained. She emphasized that the event offers a more inclusive alternative to traditional physical challenges such as marathons.
"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," she said, highlighting the low‑barrier nature of online participation. The charity has teamed up with prominent online content creator and Twitch streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously helped raise over £5,000 for Save the Children earlier in the year. This partnership signals a strategic move to leverage the reach and authenticity of established gaming personalities.
Baxter expressed enthusiasm about cultivating ongoing relationships with gamers and streamers beyond the two‑day window. "It would be incredible to reach more people in this community with information about the work we do and why it’s important," she noted.
"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, Baxter 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," she said.
The insights gathered will inform future campaigns, potentially expanding the scope to include tournaments, charity esports brackets, and collaborative in‑game items whose sales funnel directly to the charity. Baxter also praised gamers and streamers as "the unsung heroes of fundraising," pointing out that the gaming sphere is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support. She elaborated on the cultural traits that make the gaming community uniquely positioned to drive impact: "There is an understanding among 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." Save Point forms a key pillar of Save the Children’s broader campaign titled "The One Delivery That Matters," which launches in November 2026. The campaign seeks to shift public attention from traditional holiday gifts to the essential supplies that children in crisis need during the winter months.
Baxter illustrated the stark contrast by 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 event’s structure will be multi‑faceted. Participants can sign up to host their own fundraising livestreams, where they play popular titles, interact with viewers, and encourage donations. The platform will provide toolkits that include overlay graphics, donation trackers, and suggested talking points about Save the Children’s work.
Viewers will have the option to contribute directly through integrated donation links, purchase limited‑edition in‑game skins, or buy charity‑branded merchandise, with proceeds funneling to the organization’s emergency relief programs. Beyond the immediate fundraising goal, Save Point aims to educate the gaming audience about the realities faced by children in conflict zones, areas struck by natural disasters, and families living in extreme poverty. By weaving narratives of real‑world impact into the streaming content—such as sharing stories of children who receive life‑saving medical supplies or warm clothing—the event hopes to transform passive viewers into informed advocates.
The partnership with TheKapFantastic will also feature exclusive content, including a charity‑themed gaming challenge and a Q&A session where the streamer discusses personal motivations for supporting humanitarian causes. This personal touch is intended to humanize the charity’s mission and inspire other creators to join future initiatives. In preparation for Save Point, Save the Children has assembled a dedicated digital team to manage technical logistics, moderation, and real‑time analytics.
The team will monitor donation flows, ensure compliance with platform policies, and provide live support to participating streamers. Post‑event, a comprehensive report will be released, detailing total funds raised, participant numbers, and qualitative feedback from both donors and creators. Overall, Save Point represents a bold experiment in marrying the immersive world of gaming with the urgent need for humanitarian aid. By offering an accessible, entertaining, and purpose‑driven platform, Save the Children hopes to tap into the passion and generosity of a rapidly growing online community.
If successful, the model could be replicated across other charitable sectors, establishing a new paradigm where digital play and philanthropy go hand‑in‑hand. For anyone interested in taking part, registration is now open. Participants can sign up through the Save the Children website, where they will receive detailed instructions on setting up a fundraising livestream, tips on maximizing audience engagement, and resources to help them tell the story of why their gaming marathon matters. This collaborative effort aims not only to raise vital funds but also to foster a lasting bond between the charity and the vibrant, story‑driven world of gamers.