This holiday season, Save the Children is set to debut its very first game‑centric and livestream‑driven fundraiser, an event titled Save Point. The initiative is designed to tap into the enthusiasm of gamers and online audiences, offering a novel way for supporters to contribute to the organization’s mission. Fiona Baxter, the charity’s senior fundraising manager, shared with GamesIndustry.biz that Save Point emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the charity’s connection with the gaming community.
“We wanted a platform that would let us interact with gamers not just through traditional sponsorships but also via direct, personal involvement,” Baxter explained. “Many people can’t commit to physically demanding challenges like marathons, so a digital‑first event like this is far more inclusive and showcases the diverse ways individuals can support our cause.” The event will be anchored by a collaboration with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who earlier in the year raised over £5,000 for Save the Children through his own channel.
This partnership exemplifies the charity’s strategy of aligning with influencers who already have a proven track record of mobilising their audiences for philanthropic purposes. Looking beyond the immediate fundraiser, Baxter emphasized that Save the Children aims to nurture long‑term relationships with gamers, streamers, and their fan bases.
“If we can introduce more people in this space to the work we do and why it matters, we’ll have built a sustainable pipeline of supporters,” she said. “I’ll consider the event a massive success if, after it concludes, we have a new cohort of gamers who want to partner with us again because of the positive experience they had.” Baxter also highlighted the educational value of the initiative.
“Because this is our first foray into a gaming‑focused fundraiser, the insights we gather—from audience engagement metrics to feedback from participants—will be crucial. They’ll help us refine and expand future gaming events, making each iteration bigger and more impactful than the last.” In her view, gamers and streamers are often the "unsung heroes of fundraising," bringing a fresh, innovative standard to charitable giving. She noted that the gaming community shares a collective love for storytelling, imagination, and escapism, which can be harnessed for real‑world change. “When we transform our passion for play into a catalyst for lasting impact, we demonstrate just how powerful the gaming world can be in driving social good,” Baxter asserted.
Save Point is a key component of Save the Children’s broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," scheduled to launch in November 2026. The campaign seeks to shift public attention from traditional holiday gifts to essential supplies that children in crisis desperately need—such as nutritious food, medical care, warm clothing, and safe shelter. Baxter underscored this point, saying, "While many of us can order anything at the click of a button, for millions of children this Christmas the most valuable deliveries are those that sustain life and protect childhood.” The two‑day event will run on December 5 and 6, 2026.
Participants can sign up to take part in the livestream fundraiser, receive guidance on setting up their own charitable streams, and learn how to mobilise their own audiences for donations. By merging the excitement of gaming with the urgency of humanitarian aid, Save Point aspires to create a compelling narrative that resonates with both seasoned donors and newcomers drawn in by the allure of interactive entertainment. In addition to the live streaming component, the initiative will feature in‑game challenges, leaderboards, and exclusive digital rewards for top fundraisers. These gamified elements are intended to sustain momentum throughout the event, encouraging participants to push their fundraising goals and fostering a sense of community competition.
The charity also plans to showcase stories from the field—real‑time updates on how contributions are being used to deliver food parcels, medical kits, and winter clothing to children in need across the globe. By leveraging the reach of popular streamers, the interactivity of gaming platforms, and the emotional pull of holiday giving, Save Point aims to set a precedent for future collaborations between the nonprofit sector and the digital entertainment industry. Baxter concluded, "If we can prove that a gaming‑driven fundraiser can generate meaningful resources for children in crisis, we’ll have opened the door for countless other organisations to explore similar innovative approaches. The potential is enormous, and we’re just getting started."