This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused fundraising initiative, a two‑day event called Save Point. The concept emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the organization’s connection with the worldwide gaming community, a sector that has shown remarkable enthusiasm for social 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," and that it represents a strategic shift toward more inclusive, digital‑first fundraising formats.
Unlike traditional endurance challenges such as marathons, which require extensive physical preparation and time, a gaming‑centric fundraiser offers a lower barrier to entry. "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. By leveraging livestream platforms, Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and other popular channels, the charity hopes to attract a diverse array of participants—from casual players to professional streamers—who can rally their audiences around a common humanitarian goal.
To anchor the event, Save the Children has teamed up with prominent online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously raised over £5,000 for the organization earlier in the year. This partnership underscores the growing synergy between charitable NGOs and digital influencers, a relationship that can amplify fundraising reach far beyond conventional donor lists. Baxter emphasized that the collaboration 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.
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." The event is also positioned as a learning laboratory for the charity. "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 noted.
By collecting data on viewer engagement, donation spikes, and the effectiveness of different streaming formats, Save the Children aims to refine its digital fundraising playbook and set a precedent for other NGOs looking to tap into the gaming ecosystem. Baxter described gamers and streamers as the "unsung heroes of fundraising," highlighting how the gaming space is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support.
She pointed out that many gamers share a deep appreciation for narrative, imagination, and immersive worlds. "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 forms part of the broader "The One Delivery That Matters" campaign, scheduled to launch in November 2026. This campaign seeks to shift public attention from material gifts to essential supplies that children in crisis zones desperately need during the festive period. Millions of youngsters will be awaiting deliveries of food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter rather than toys or confectionery. Baxter captured the urgency of the 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." The Save Point event will run from December 5 to December 6, 2026. Participants can sign up through a dedicated registration portal, where they will receive guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream, tips for engaging audiences, and best practices for integrating donation links and on‑screen alerts. The charity will also provide promotional assets, such as custom overlays, graphics, and themed emotes, to help streamers personalize their broadcasts while maintaining brand consistency. Beyond the immediate fundraising goal, Save Point aims to foster a lasting community of gaming‑focused philanthropists.
By offering post‑event follow‑up, networking opportunities, and potential future collaborations, Save the Children hopes to turn one‑off participants into long‑term ambassadors. The organization plans to share impact reports detailing how the funds raised translate into tangible outcomes—such as the number of meals provided, medical kits distributed, and safe sleeping spaces created—thereby reinforcing the link between digital generosity and real‑world impact. In summary, Save Point represents a bold experiment at the intersection of entertainment, technology, and humanitarian aid.
It leverages the connective power of live streaming, the storytelling ethos of gaming, and the altruistic drive of a global audience to address pressing needs faced by children during the holiday season. As the event approaches, the charity invites anyone with a passion for games and a desire to make a difference to join the cause, sign up for updates, and consider turning their next gaming session into a life‑saving mission.