This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its debut gaming‑focused fundraising initiative, dubbed Save Point. The new event merges video‑game play, live streaming, and charitable giving into a single, accessible experience designed to attract a broader audience beyond traditional fundraisers.
Fiona Baxter, the organisation’s senior fundraising manager, told GamesIndustry.biz that the concept for Save Point grew out of a strategic desire to deepen the charity’s connection with the worldwide gaming community. "We wanted a platform where gamers and their fans could contribute in a way that feels natural to them," Baxter explained. "Not everyone is able to run a marathon or climb a mountain for charity, but virtually anyone can pick up a controller or sit in front of a webcam and make a difference." The event will be anchored by a partnership with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who earlier this year helped raise more than £5,000 for Save the Children through his own channels.
By leveraging his existing audience, the charity hopes to amplify its message and inspire other content creators to join the cause. Baxter emphasised that the partnership is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy to nurture relationships with gamers, streamers, and the broader e‑sports ecosystem. "Our ambition is to keep the conversation going after the two‑day event ends," she said. "If we can introduce more people in this space to the vital work we do—why it matters, how it changes lives—that’s a win in itself.
I’ll consider the event a massive success if we walk away with a fresh cohort of supporters who want to return for future gaming‑based fundraisers because they enjoyed the experience and saw the impact." Because this is Save Children’s first foray into a gaming‑centric fundraiser, the team is also treating the event as a learning laboratory. "We’ll be gathering feedback from participants, partners, and viewers to understand what worked and what didn’t," Baxter noted. "Those insights will shape larger, more ambitious gaming events in the years to come, allowing us to refine the format and increase the amount of money raised for children in need." Baxter described gamers and streamers as "the unsung heroes of fundraising," highlighting how the gaming world is pioneering an "innovative, new standard" for charitable support.
She pointed out that many gamers share a love for storytelling, imagination, and escaping into virtual realms, which can be harnessed to drive real‑world change. "When we channel that passion for play into tangible help for children, we showcase just how powerful the gaming community can be," she said.
Save Point forms part of Save the Children’s broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," slated to launch in November 2026. The campaign aims to shift public attention from the typical holiday gift‑giving narrative to the urgent needs of children who are awaiting essential supplies—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter—rather than toys.
Baxter underscored this point, stating, "Anything you can order with a tap of a screen can be delivered to a doorstep, but for millions of children this Christmas, the deliveries they need are life‑saving essentials, not presents." The two‑day event is scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026. Participants can sign up through a dedicated registration link, which will also provide guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream, choosing donation platforms, and promoting the stream to maximise reach. The charity encourages both seasoned streamers and newcomers to get involved, noting that even a modest audience can generate significant contributions when combined with the enthusiasm of the gaming community. Beyond the immediate fundraising goal, Save Point is intended to serve as a showcase for how digital entertainment can be leveraged for social good.
By integrating charitable appeals directly into the gaming experience—through in‑stream donation alerts, special in‑game challenges, and collaborative events—the charity hopes to create a replicable model that other organisations can adopt. In the weeks leading up to the event, Save the Children will release a series of promotional videos, behind‑the‑scenes interviews with participating creators, and educational content about the children who will benefit from the donations. These materials aim to deepen viewers' understanding of the cause, fostering a sense of personal connection that can translate into higher donation rates.
Ultimately, Save Point represents a bold experiment in merging entertainment with philanthropy. If successful, it could pave the way for a new era of charity events that are as engaging and inclusive as they are impactful, proving that the power of play extends far beyond the screen and into the lives of children who need it most.