This holiday season, Save the Children is set to debut its very first game‑focused and live‑streaming fundraiser, an event christened Save Point. The initiative is designed to tap into the enthusiasm of gamers and the expansive reach of online streaming platforms, offering a fresh avenue for supporters to contribute to the charity’s mission.
Fiona Baxter, the organisation’s senior fundraising manager, shared with 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 way to interact with gamers that felt natural and exciting for both partners and individual donors,” Baxter explained. “Not everyone can commit to a marathon or a long‑distance bike ride, so a gaming‑centric event provides a more inclusive, accessible way for people to get involved and demonstrate the impact that a different type of supporter can have.” The event will be anchored by a collaboration with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who earlier in the year helped raise over £5,000 for Save the Children through his own channels. This partnership exemplifies the charity’s strategy of aligning with influential voices in the gaming world to amplify its message and fundraising potential.
Looking beyond the two‑day window of the fundraiser, Baxter expressed a strong desire to nurture ongoing relationships with gamers, streamers, and their audiences. “If we can introduce more people in this community to the work we do and why it matters, that’s a win in itself,” she said. “I’ll consider the event a massive success if we walk away with a fresh cohort of supporters who are eager to game for us again because of the experience they had during Save Point.” Because this is Save the Children’s first foray into a gaming‑centric fundraiser, the team anticipates a steep learning curve.
“There are countless learning opportunities embedded in this event,” Baxter noted. “The feedback we gather will be priceless, helping us refine and scale up future gaming‑related campaigns year after year.” Baxter also highlighted the often‑overlooked role that gamers and streamers play in the charitable sector, describing them as the "unsung heroes of fundraising." She argued that the gaming arena is forging a new, innovative standard for charitable support. “Gamers share a love of narrative, imagination, and the escapism that comes from exploring new virtual worlds,” she said. “When we channel that passion into real‑world impact, we showcase just how powerful and transformative the gaming community can be.” Save Point is a central element of Save the Children’s broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," slated to launch in November 2026.
The campaign seeks to draw attention to the stark reality that, for millions of children worldwide, the most vital gifts this Christmas will not be toys or sweets, but essential supplies such as food, medication, warm clothing, and safe shelter. Baxter emphasized this point, stating, “Anything you can imagine being delivered with a tap of a screen can be sent to a doorstep. Yet for countless children this festive season, the deliveries they await are life‑saving essentials, not playthings.” The Save Point event is scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026.
Participants can sign up by registering their interest through the provided link, which will also supply guidance on how to set up a fundraising livestream. By merging the excitement of gaming with a clear, urgent humanitarian cause, Save the Children hopes to inspire a new wave of digital philanthropy, proving that virtual play can translate into tangible, life‑changing outcomes for children in need. In addition to the live streams, the charity plans to incorporate interactive challenges, donation milestones, and exclusive in‑game rewards to keep viewers engaged and motivated to contribute.
Streamers will have the opportunity to showcase their gameplay while highlighting stories from the field, creating a direct emotional bridge between the audience and the children they are helping. This blended approach aims to foster a sense of community among participants, turning solitary gaming sessions into collective acts of compassion. Moreover, Save Point will feature educational segments where experts from Save the Children discuss the specific needs of children in crisis zones, the logistics of delivering aid, and the measurable impact of donor contributions. By providing transparency and context, the charity hopes to deepen donors’ understanding of how their virtual participation translates into real‑world relief.
Overall, Save Point represents a pioneering step for charitable fundraising, leveraging the growing influence of the gaming ecosystem to reach new demographics, generate sustainable support, and ultimately deliver critical resources to children who need them most during the holiday season.