This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused fundraising initiative, dubbed "Save Point," a hybrid event that blends video‑game play with live streaming to raise money for vulnerable children worldwide. The concept emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the organization’s connection with the gaming community, a demographic that has shown increasing enthusiasm for charitable causes. Fiona Baxter, the charity’s senior fundraising manager, shared with GamesIndustry.biz that the idea for Save Point was "born from a wider desire to engage more with the gaming community." She emphasized that traditional fundraising methods, such as marathons or galas, can be limiting in terms of who can participate.
"Not everyone can run a marathon, so an event like this is a lot more accessible and allows us to showcase what a different type of supporter can do," Baxter explained. By leveraging the interactive nature of games and the reach of live streaming platforms, Save Point aims to invite both casual gamers and professional streamers to contribute their time, skills, and audiences to a common cause.
To give the event a strong launchpad, Save the Children has teamed up with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously helped the charity raise over £5,000 earlier in the year. This partnership not only brings a proven fundraising track record but also signals the organization’s commitment to building lasting relationships within the gaming ecosystem. Baxter noted that the charity hopes to maintain momentum after the event, saying, "It would be incredible to reach more people in this community with information about the work we do and why it’s important. I will consider it a huge success if we walk away from this event with a new crew of supporters who might want to game for us again because of their experience with us." Because Save Point is a first‑time venture for Save the Children, the team is treating it as a learning laboratory.
"There are also 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," Baxter said. The organization plans to analyze viewer engagement metrics, donation patterns, and participant feedback to refine future campaigns, potentially expanding into larger tournaments, collaborative charity streams, and even in‑game item sales where a percentage of proceeds go directly to the charity. Baxter described gamers and streamers as the "unsung heroes of fundraising," highlighting how the gaming sphere is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support.
She pointed out that many gamers share a love for storytelling, imagination, and immersive worlds, which can be redirected toward real‑world impact. "There is an understanding between 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," she added. Save Point is integrated into Save the Children’s broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," scheduled to launch in November 2026. This campaign seeks to shift public attention from material gifts to essential deliveries that children in crisis need during the festive period—such as nutritious food, vital medicines, warm clothing, and safe shelter. Baxter underscored this message, stating, "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 event itself will run over two days, from December 5 to December 6, 2026. Participants can sign up to join the livestream, set up their own fundraising pages, and encourage their followers to donate while they play. The format is flexible: individuals may stream solo gameplay, host cooperative sessions with friends, or even organize mini‑tournaments with entry fees earmarked for the charity.
Throughout the 48‑hour window, Save the Children will feature regular updates, guest appearances from prominent gamers, and interactive challenges designed to boost donation spikes. Beyond the immediate fundraising goal, Save Point aims to cultivate a community of "gaming philanthropists"—players who see charitable giving as an integral part of their online presence. By providing toolkits, donation overlays, and promotional assets, the charity makes it easy for streamers of any size to participate. Moreover, the event will spotlight stories of children whose lives are directly improved by the donations, creating a tangible link between the virtual actions of gamers and real‑world outcomes.
In the longer term, Save the Children envisions a series of recurring gaming events, each building on the insights gathered from Save Point. Potential future initiatives could include collaborations with game developers to embed charitable triggers within popular titles, exclusive in‑game skins whose purchase benefits the organization, and partnerships with esports leagues to allocate a share of prize pools to humanitarian aid. Overall, Save Point represents a strategic pivot for Save the Children, embracing the digital age and the cultural influence of gaming to broaden its donor base and modernize its fundraising toolkit. By aligning the excitement of play with the urgency of delivering essential supplies to children in need, the charity hopes to inspire a new generation of supporters who view gaming not just as entertainment, but as a powerful vehicle for social good.
If you’re interested in taking part, you can register your interest through the provided link and receive detailed instructions on how to set up your own fundraising livestream. Whether you’re a seasoned streamer, a casual gamer, or simply someone who wants to make a difference this holiday season, Save Point offers a unique avenue to turn screen time into life‑changing support for children around the globe.