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 new venture is designed to tap into the enthusiasm of the gaming community and harness the power of online streaming to raise both awareness and funds for children in need. 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 gamers.
"Save Point was born out of a wider desire to engage more with the gaming community," she explained. "We wanted to create an avenue where both partners and individual supporters could get involved in a way that feels natural to them. Not everyone can run a marathon or climb a mountain, but a gaming marathon is far more accessible and still offers a powerful platform for supporters to make a difference." The event will be anchored by a collaboration with popular online content creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who has already demonstrated his commitment to the cause by raising over £5,000 for Save the Children earlier this year. Baxter emphasized that the partnership is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy to nurture relationships with gamers, influencers, and streaming personalities beyond the two‑day fundraiser.
"It would be incredible to reach more people in this community with information about the work we do and why it matters," she said. "I’ll consider the event a huge success if we walk away with a fresh crew of supporters who want to game for us again because of the experience they had." Because this is Save the Children’s first foray into a gaming‑centric fundraiser, Baxter highlighted the learning potential embedded in the initiative. "There are 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 noted. Baxter also praised gamers and streamers as the "unsung heroes of fundraising," pointing out that the gaming world is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support.
She elaborated on the cultural fit between gaming and philanthropy, noting that many gamers are drawn to stories, imagination, and immersive worlds. "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 a key component of Save the Children’s broader campaign titled "The One Delivery That Matters," which launches in November 2026. The campaign seeks to shift the holiday narrative for millions of children who will be awaiting essential supplies—such as nutritious food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter—rather than traditional gifts.
Baxter underscored the stark contrast between consumer expectations and the reality faced by vulnerable children: "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." Save Point is scheduled to run over two days, from December 5 to December 6, 2026. During the event, participants will be able to set up their own fundraising livestreams, encouraging viewers to donate while they play. The charity has created a simple registration portal where interested gamers can sign up, receive guidance on how to host a successful stream, and access promotional assets to share with their audiences.
The structure of the event is designed to be inclusive. Whether a participant is a casual player who enjoys a few hours of gaming each week, a professional e‑sports athlete, or a content creator with a sizable following, Save Point offers multiple tiers of involvement.
Smaller streamers can join a collective leaderboard that aggregates donations across all participants, while larger influencers may host dedicated charity streams with custom donation goals and interactive challenges. In addition to direct fundraising, Save Point aims to educate viewers about the specific programs that Save the Children will fund with the proceeds. Throughout the livestreams, the charity will feature short documentary‑style segments that illustrate the impact of delivering food parcels, medical kits, winter clothing, and safe sleeping arrangements to children in conflict zones, disaster‑affected regions, and impoverished communities.
The event also incorporates gamified incentives. Donors who contribute certain amounts will unlock exclusive in‑game items, digital badges, or shout‑outs from the streamer, creating a feedback loop that encourages higher participation. These rewards are designed to resonate with the gaming audience’s love for achievement and recognition.
Baxter expressed optimism that Save Point could become an annual fixture, noting that the insights gathered from this inaugural edition will inform future expansions. "We’re looking at the possibility of scaling this model, perhaps partnering with game developers to embed charitable mechanics directly into games, or organizing larger e‑sports tournaments with charitable prize pools," she said. Overall, Save Point represents a strategic blend of entertainment, community engagement, and philanthropy.
By leveraging the reach of streaming platforms and the passion of gamers, Save the Children hopes to deliver vital resources to children who need them most, while simultaneously fostering a new generation of socially conscious gamers. If you’re interested in joining the cause, you can register your interest through the Save Point sign‑up page. Once registered, you’ll receive a toolkit that includes step‑by‑step instructions for setting up a livestream, tips for promoting your stream, and guidelines for safely handling donations. Whether you’re a seasoned streamer or a newcomer eager to make a difference, Save Point offers a unique opportunity to turn playtime into a powerful force for good.