This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused and livestream‑driven fundraising initiative, called Save Point. The new event is designed to tap into the enthusiasm of gamers and online creators, offering a novel way for supporters to contribute to the organization’s mission while having fun.
Fiona Baxter, the senior fundraising manager at Save the Children, told GamesIndustry.biz that the concept for 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 as donors but as partners," she explained.
"Traditional fundraisers like marathons are fantastic, but they aren’t accessible to everyone. A gaming marathon or livestream can reach a much wider audience, allowing people who might not be able to run a race to still make a meaningful impact." The event will be anchored by a collaboration with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who has already demonstrated his charitable spirit by raising more than £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, streamers, and their audiences beyond the two‑day fundraiser. "Our goal is to keep the conversation going after Save Point ends," Baxter said.
"If we can introduce more people in the gaming world to the work we do and why it matters, we’ll have built a sustainable pipeline of supporters who might choose to host their own gaming fundraisers in the future. Success for us isn’t just the amount raised on December 5‑6; it’s the community we cultivate and the ongoing advocacy we inspire." Because this is Save the Children’s first foray into a gaming‑centric fundraiser, the team is approaching the event as a learning experience. "We’ll be gathering feedback from participants, viewers, and partners to refine the format for future editions," Baxter noted. "Each insight will help us scale up and deliver even bigger, more engaging gaming events year after year." Baxter also highlighted the crucial role that gamers and streamers play in the nonprofit sector, describing them as "the unsung heroes of fundraising." She pointed out that the gaming arena is beginning to set a "new, innovative standard" for charitable support, blending entertainment with purpose in ways that resonate with younger, digitally native audiences.
"Gamers are storytellers at heart," she added. "We love immersive narratives, creative worlds, and the sense of escape that games provide. When we channel that passion into real‑world impact, we showcase just how powerful the gaming community can be in driving lasting change." Save Point forms part of the broader "The One Delivery That Matters" campaign, slated to launch in November 2026. The campaign seeks to shift public focus from material gifts to essential supplies that children in crisis need during the festive season—items such as nutritious food, vital medicines, warm clothing, and safe shelter.
"In the digital age, you can order almost anything with a tap on your screen," Baxter remarked. "But for millions of children this Christmas, the most important deliveries aren’t toys or sweets; they’re life‑saving essentials that protect their health and future." The Save Point event is scheduled for December 5 and 6, 2026.
Participants can sign up through the charity’s registration page, where they will receive guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream, tips for engaging viewers, and resources to promote their streams across social platforms. By merging the excitement of gaming with the urgency of humanitarian aid, Save the Children hopes to demonstrate that play and purpose can coexist. The organization envisions a future where gaming events become a regular fixture in the charitable calendar, offering an inclusive, entertaining, and effective avenue for people worldwide to contribute to the well‑being of children in need.
In the months leading up to Save Point, the charity plans to host a series of preparatory webinars and Q&A sessions with experienced streamers, providing potential fundraisers with best practices on audience interaction, donation mechanics, and technical setup. These resources aim to lower the barrier to entry for newcomers who might be eager to help but unsure how to start. Moreover, Save the Children will be tracking real‑time donation totals during the livestreams, displaying progress bars and impact metrics to keep viewers informed about how their contributions translate into tangible outcomes—such as the number of meals provided or the quantity of winter coats distributed.
The organization also intends to spotlight stories from beneficiaries, giving donors a direct glimpse into the difference their support makes. By weaving personal narratives into the gaming experience, Save Point aspires to create an emotional connection that motivates continued generosity beyond the event itself. Ultimately, the success of Save Point will be measured not only in the funds raised but also in the strength of the new community of gaming advocates that emerges.
If the event can inspire a cohort of streamers to host their own charity drives, the ripple effect could amplify the charity’s reach far beyond the initial two‑day window, establishing gaming as a permanent pillar of Save the Children’s fundraising strategy.