This holiday season, Save the Children is set to debut its very first gaming‑centric fundraising experience, a two‑day event dubbed Save Point. The initiative, scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026, blends live streaming, competitive play, and community engagement to rally support for children in need during the most vulnerable time of the year.
Fiona Baxter, the organization’s senior fundraising manager, shared with GamesIndustry.biz that the concept for Save Point emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the charity’s relationship with the gaming world. "We wanted a platform where we could connect with gamers not just as donors but as partners," Baxter explained.
"Traditional fundraisers like marathons are fantastic, but they’re not accessible to everyone. A gaming marathon offers a low‑barrier entry point, allowing anyone with a console or PC to contribute by simply playing, streaming, or cheering on friends." The charity has teamed up with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously helped raise more than £5,000 for Save the Children earlier in the year.
Their involvement brings a built‑in audience and a proven track record of turning viewership into tangible donations. Baxter emphasized that the partnership is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy: "Our goal is to keep nurturing these relationships long after the event ends. We want gamers and streamers to become ongoing ambassadors for our cause, sharing the stories of the children we help and encouraging their followers to get involved in future campaigns." According to Baxter, the success of Save Point will be measured not only by the amount of money raised but also by the new community of supporters it cultivates.
"If we finish the weekend with a fresh crew of gamers who feel inspired to host their own charity streams or organize gaming tournaments for us, that will be a massive win," she said. "It shows that the experience resonated and that they see value in aligning their passion for play with real‑world impact." Because this is Save the Children’s first foray into a gaming‑driven fundraiser, the team anticipates a steep learning curve. "We’re approaching this as a pilot," Baxter noted. "Every comment, every donation pattern, and every technical hiccup will feed into a repository of insights that will help us refine and scale future events.
We want to build something that can grow year after year, becoming a staple in the charity‑gaming calendar." Baxter also highlighted the often‑overlooked role of gamers and streamers in the philanthropic ecosystem, describing them as "the unsung heroes of fundraising." She argued that the gaming sector is pioneering a new, innovative standard for charitable support, leveraging its unique culture of storytelling, imagination, and community. "Gamers love immersive narratives and the chance to escape into new worlds," she said. "When we channel that enthusiasm toward tangible change—whether it’s funding food parcels, medical supplies, or warm clothing—we demonstrate just how powerful that collective imagination can be when directed toward humanitarian goals." Save Point is a cornerstone of Save the Children’s broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," which launches in November 2026.
The campaign aims to shift public focus from material gifts to essential deliveries that children in crisis desperately need. Baxter illustrated the contrast vividly: "Imagine being able to click a button and have a package arrive at your doorstep. For many of us that’s a convenience, but for millions of children this Christmas, the package contains life‑saving supplies—not toys." The event’s structure will feature a mix of scheduled gaming challenges, charity auctions, and interactive donation milestones.
Viewers will be able to pledge money in real time as streamers hit specific in‑game objectives, such as completing a level without taking damage or achieving a high score. Special guest appearances from game developers and industry influencers are also planned, adding extra draw for both casual fans and hardcore players.
Participants who wish to join the fundraiser can sign up through a dedicated registration portal. Once enrolled, they will receive a toolkit containing guidelines on setting up a streaming rig, tips for engaging an audience, and best practices for transparent fundraising.
The charity will also provide promotional assets, such as overlay graphics and donation trackers, to ensure a professional and cohesive look across all streams. Beyond the immediate financial goals, Save Point seeks to raise awareness about the stark realities many children face during the holiday season. By weaving personal stories of families awaiting food, medicine, and safe shelter into the broadcast narrative, the event hopes to humanize the statistics and inspire sustained advocacy. In summary, Save Point represents an ambitious experiment at the intersection of digital entertainment and humanitarian aid.
By inviting the gaming community to rally around a shared purpose, Save the Children aims to set a precedent for how charities can harness the energy, creativity, and reach of online gamers to drive meaningful, life‑changing outcomes for children worldwide.