This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused and live‑streaming fundraiser, an initiative dubbed Save Point. The concept emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the organization’s connection with the gaming community, according to senior fundraising manager Fiona Baxter, who spoke with GamesIndustry.biz about the project’s origins and goals.
Baxter explained that Save Point was "born from a wider desire to engage more with the gaming community," highlighting the charity’s intention to create a platform where both established gaming partners and individual enthusiasts can contribute meaningfully. "Not everyone can run a marathon, so an event like this is far more accessible and allows us to showcase what a different type of supporter can do," she said. By leveraging the interactive nature of video games and the expansive reach of live streaming, the charity hopes to attract participants who might not otherwise be involved in traditional fundraising activities.
To give the event a strong launchpad, Save the Children has teamed up with popular online content creator and streamer TheKapFantastic. The influencer has a proven track record with the charity, having previously raised more than £5,000 earlier in the year.
This partnership not only brings a sizable audience to the cause but also demonstrates the potential of collaborative efforts between non‑profits and digital creators. Looking beyond the two‑day window of the fundraiser, Baxter emphasized the charity’s commitment to nurturing ongoing relationships with gamers and streamers.
"It would be incredible to reach more people in this community with information about the work we do and why it's important," she said. "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." In other words, the event is intended to be a springboard for a longer‑term engagement strategy, turning one‑off participants into repeat advocates. Baxter also noted that the inaugural nature of Save Point presents a valuable learning curve for the organization.
"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," she said. By gathering data on viewer numbers, donation patterns, and participant feedback, Save the Children aims to refine its approach and scale up future gaming‑centric campaigns. In her remarks, Baxter praised gamers and streamers as "unsung heroes of fundraising," underscoring the growing role of the gaming sector in philanthropy.
She observed that the community is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support, driven by a shared love of storytelling, imagination, and immersive play. "There is an understanding among 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 a key component of Save the Children’s broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," which kicks off in November 2026. The campaign seeks to shift public attention from conventional holiday gifts to the essential supplies that many children urgently need during the festive season—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter. Baxter highlighted this contrast, noting, "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 is scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026. During those two days, participants can join live streams, compete in gaming challenges, and encourage their audiences to donate directly to Save the Children. The charity has set up a simple registration process: anyone interested can sign up through the provided link, which also supplies guidance on how to set up a fundraising livestream, from technical requirements to best practices for engaging viewers. By marrying the excitement of gaming with a clear humanitarian mission, Save Point aims to demonstrate how digital entertainment can be harnessed for social good.
The charity hopes that the event will not only raise substantial funds but also inspire a new wave of advocates who view gaming as a viable avenue for activism. If successful, the initiative could pave the way for larger, more ambitious gaming fundraisers in the years to come, solidifying the gaming community’s reputation as a powerful partner in the fight to improve children’s lives worldwide.