This holiday season, Save the Children is set to debut its very first gaming‑focused fundraising initiative, a live‑streamed event called Save Point. The concept was conceived out of a broader ambition to deepen the organisation’s connection with the worldwide gaming community, according to senior fundraising manager Fiona Baxter, who spoke to GamesIndustry.biz.
"Save Point emerged from our desire to reach out more effectively to gamers, both through strategic partnerships and by inviting individual supporters to take part," Baxter said. "Not everyone has the stamina or time to run a marathon, so an event built around video games and streaming is far more inclusive. It gives us a chance to illustrate how a different kind of participant can make a tangible impact." The charity has teamed up with popular online content creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously helped raise over £5,000 for Save the Children earlier this year. Baxter highlighted that the partnership is just the beginning of a longer‑term plan to nurture relationships with gamers and streamers beyond the immediate fundraiser.
"If we can introduce more people in this community to the work we do and why it matters, that would be a massive win," she explained. "I’ll consider the event a resounding success if we walk away with a fresh cohort of supporters who are eager to game for us again, motivated by the experience they’ve had." Because this is Save the Children’s first foray into a gaming‑centric fundraiser, Baxter emphasized that the event will generate a wealth of learning opportunities. "The feedback we collect will be priceless and will help us design even bigger, more polished gaming events in the years to come," she noted. Baxter praised gamers and streamers as the "unsung heroes of fundraising," observing that the gaming world is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable giving.
She elaborated on the cultural traits that make the gaming audience uniquely suited to this kind of work. "Gamers share a love for storytelling, imagination, and escaping into new realms through play. When we channel that passion toward real‑world change, we showcase just how powerful and influential the gaming community can be," she said. Save Point forms part of the broader "The One Delivery That Matters" campaign, which launches in November 2026.
The campaign aims to shift attention from traditional holiday gifts to the essential supplies that many children desperately need during the festive season—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter. "In the digital age, you can order almost anything with a few taps, and have it delivered to your doorstep," Baxter observed.
"For millions of children this Christmas, however, it isn’t toys or sweets they’re hoping for—it’s the life‑saving deliveries that will protect their childhoods." The two‑day Save Point event is scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026. Participants will be able to register their interest via a dedicated link, which will also provide guidance on how to set up a fundraising livestream, choose donation targets, and engage their audience throughout the broadcast. During the event, streamers like TheKapFantastic will host live gaming sessions, challenge runs, and interactive Q&A segments, encouraging viewers to donate in real time. The charity plans to feature a variety of game genres—from competitive esports titles to narrative‑driven adventures—to appeal to a wide spectrum of gamers.
In addition, special in‑game items or skins may be released in partnership with developers, with proceeds directed to Save the Children’s emergency relief efforts. Beyond the immediate fundraising goal, Save Point is designed to build a lasting bridge between the nonprofit sector and the gaming industry. By showcasing successful collaborations, the charity hopes to inspire other organisations to explore similar digital‑first approaches, leveraging the massive, engaged audiences that gaming platforms command. Baxter concluded with an optimistic outlook: "We’re thrilled to be pioneering this space.
The enthusiasm we’ve already seen from creators and their communities tells us that gaming can become a cornerstone of modern philanthropy. Our aim is to keep iterating, learning, and expanding, so that each year we can deliver even more support to children who need it most." For anyone interested in joining the cause, registration details and further information on setting up a fundraising stream are available through the Save Point sign‑up page.
By turning a shared love of play into a vehicle for compassion, Save the Children hopes to make this holiday season a turning point for countless children around the world.