This holiday season, Save the Children is set to debut its very first gaming‑centric fundraiser, a live‑streamed event dubbed "Save Point." The initiative, scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026, merges the excitement of video games with the power of charitable giving, aiming to draw in a broader audience of gamers, content creators, and supporters who might not otherwise participate in traditional fundraising activities like marathons or galas. Fiona Baxter, the organization’s senior fundraising manager, told GamesIndustry.biz that the concept for Save Point emerged from a growing 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," she explained.
"We wanted an event that would be as inclusive and accessible as possible, allowing both partners and individual supporters to take part in a way that fits their interests and abilities. Not everyone can run a marathon, but many people love to play and stream games, so this format opens the door for a whole new cohort of donors." The charity has teamed up with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who has already demonstrated a knack for rallying financial support for the cause by raising over £5,000 earlier in the year.
Baxter highlighted that this partnership is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy to cultivate relationships with gamers and streamers beyond the two‑day event. "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 it 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 during Save Point." Because Save Point is a brand‑new format for the charity, Baxter emphasized the learning potential embedded in the venture. "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. In her view, gamers and streamers are "the unsung heroes of fundraising," and the sector is "setting a new, innovative standard" for how charitable causes can be championed. She elaborated on the cultural link between gaming and philanthropy: "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." This sentiment underscores a broader shift in how digital entertainment spaces are being leveraged for social good, moving beyond simple donation buttons to immersive, interactive experiences that can galvanize large, engaged audiences.
Save Point forms part of Save the Children’s wider campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," which launches in November 2026. The campaign seeks to shift public focus from material gifts to essential supplies for children in need during the festive period. Baxter explained, "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 campaign’s messaging is stark: while many families anticipate presents, countless children will be hoping for basic necessities such as nutritious food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter.
By framing these needs as “deliveries” that can be facilitated through digital platforms, Save the Children hopes to tap into the immediacy and convenience that gamers are accustomed to, turning a simple click into a life‑saving action. Participants in Save Point can sign up via a dedicated registration page, where they will receive guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream, choosing games, and promoting their streams to maximize reach. The charity plans to provide promotional assets, donation trackers, and real‑time updates on fundraising totals, encouraging a sense of community competition and collective achievement.
Beyond the immediate financial goals, the event aims to cultivate a lasting network of gaming‑focused advocates. Baxter envisions future collaborations that could include charity esports tournaments, in‑game charity skins, and cross‑platform donation drives.
"We see this as the first step in a longer journey," she said. "If we can prove the model works, we’ll explore larger‑scale events, partnerships with game developers, and perhaps even integrate charitable mechanics directly into games themselves." The potential impact of Save Point extends to raising awareness about the broader challenges faced by children worldwide.
By weaving the narrative of urgent deliveries into the fabric of a gaming event, Save the Children hopes to educate a demographic that might otherwise be less exposed to these issues. The organization also plans to share stories from beneficiaries during the livestreams, providing a human face to the donations and reinforcing the tangible outcomes of each contribution. In summary, Save Point represents a pioneering effort by Save the Children to harness the enthusiasm, connectivity, and innovative spirit of the gaming world for humanitarian purposes.
By offering an accessible, entertaining, and meaningful way to give, the charity aims not only to raise funds for essential supplies this Christmas but also to lay the groundwork for an ongoing partnership with the gaming community that could transform charitable fundraising for years to come.