This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused and streaming‑driven fundraiser, an event christened Save Point. The initiative represents a strategic move by the organization to tap into the vibrant world of video games and live‑streamed content, offering a fresh avenue for supporters to contribute to the charity’s mission.
Fiona Baxter, the senior fundraising manager at Save the Children, 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 to create something that resonated with gamers, both as partners and as individual donors,” Baxter explained. “Not everyone can sign up for a marathon or a long‑distance bike ride, but a gaming marathon is far more inclusive and allows us to showcase how a different kind of supporter can make a real impact.” The event will be anchored by a collaboration with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who has already demonstrated his fundraising potential by raising over £5,000 for Save the Children earlier this year. This partnership underscores the charity’s commitment to forging lasting relationships with influential voices in the gaming sphere.
Baxter emphasized that the goal extends beyond a single weekend of donations. “Our hope is to keep building bridges with gamers and streamers long after Save Point concludes,” she said.
“If we can reach more members of this community with information about the work we do and why it matters, we’ll have achieved something far bigger than a one‑off fundraiser. Success, for us, will look like a new crew of supporters who are eager to game for us again because of the experience they’ve had.” The inaugural nature of Save Point also presents a valuable learning curve for the charity. “There are countless learning opportunities embedded in this event,” Baxter noted. “Because it’s our first foray into this type of fundraising, the feedback we collect will be priceless.
It will help us refine the format and scale up future gaming events, making them bigger, better, and more effective year after year.” In Baxter’s view, gamers and streamers are the “unsung heroes of fundraising,” a group that is beginning to set a new, innovative standard for charitable support. She highlighted the unique culture of the gaming community: “Game‑lovers share a love of stories, imagination, and the thrill of escaping into new worlds through play. When we channel that passion into tangible, real‑world change, we illustrate just how powerful and impactful the gaming community can be.” 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 the public’s focus from traditional holiday gifts to the essential supplies that many children desperately need during the festive season—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter.
Baxter underscored this point, saying, “Anything you can think of can be delivered to your door with a tap on a screen, but for millions of children this Christmas, it isn’t toys or sweets they’re waiting for—it’s life‑saving deliveries that protect their childhoods.” The two‑day 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 setting up a fundraising livestream. Once registered, gamers can choose to stream their play sessions, encourage viewer donations, and even collaborate with other creators to amplify the reach of the fundraiser.
Beyond the immediate financial goals, Save Point seeks to foster a sense of community and shared purpose among gamers. By aligning the excitement of gaming marathons with the urgency of humanitarian aid, the charity hopes to demonstrate that entertainment and empathy are not mutually exclusive. The event also serves as a platform for raising awareness about the broader challenges faced by children in crisis zones, leveraging the global reach of streaming platforms to disseminate information about Save the Children’s ongoing projects. Looking ahead, Baxter envisions a future where gaming events become a regular fixture in the charity’s fundraising calendar.
“We see immense potential for recurring gaming fundraisers that evolve alongside the industry,” she said. “As technology advances and new platforms emerge, we’ll continue to explore innovative ways to engage supporters, whether through virtual reality experiences, esports tournaments, or collaborative in‑game events that tie directly to donation triggers.” In summary, Save Point represents a pioneering step for Save the Children, merging the dynamic world of gaming with a timeless humanitarian mission. By inviting gamers, streamers, and their audiences to contribute through play, the charity not only diversifies its fundraising portfolio but also taps into a passionate community eager to make a difference. The event promises to deliver vital resources to children in need this Christmas, while also laying the groundwork for a sustainable, game‑driven model of charitable giving that could reshape how nonprofits connect with younger, digitally native audiences in the years to come.