This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its debut gaming‑focused fundraising campaign, branded Save Point. The initiative merges the excitement of video games with live streaming to generate support for children in need, marking a significant departure from traditional charity events such as marathons or galas. 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. "Save Point is allowing us to engage more with the gaming community, both from a partnership and individual supporter perspective.
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," she explained. The event will be anchored by a collaboration with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who earlier in the year raised over £5,000 for Save the Children through his own channel. Baxter emphasised that this partnership is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy to cultivate relationships with gamers, influencers, and their audiences.
"It would be incredible to reach more people in this community with information about the work we do and why it's important," Baxter 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." Because this is Save the Children’s first foray into a gaming‑centric fundraiser, the team anticipates a steep learning curve. "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 added. Baxter praised gamers and streamers as "unsung heroes of fundraising" and highlighted how the gaming world is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support. She noted that many gamers share a love for storytelling, imagination, and immersive worlds, and that channeling that passion into tangible social impact showcases the sector’s potential. "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 remarked. Save Point is a key component of Save the Children’s broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," which launches in November 2026.
The campaign aims to draw attention to the fact that, for millions of children worldwide, the most essential gifts this Christmas are not toys but life‑saving provisions such as nutritious food, essential medicines, warm clothing, and safe shelter. "Absolutely anything you could think of can be delivered right to your door at the tap of a screen," Baxter observed. "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 Save Point event will run over two days, from December 5 to December 6, 2026.
Participants can sign up to host their own fundraising livestreams, where they play games, interact with viewers, and encourage donations that go directly to Save the Children’s emergency response programmes. The charity will provide resources on how to set up a stream, promote the event, and track fundraising progress. In addition to individual streamers, the charity plans to involve game developers and publishers, who may contribute in‑game items, exclusive skins, or donation‑matching schemes to amplify the impact.
By integrating these incentives, Save Point hopes to attract a wide spectrum of gamers—from casual mobile players to dedicated PC and console enthusiasts. The initiative also seeks to educate the gaming audience about the broader humanitarian context. Throughout the livestreams, hosts will feature short segments that explain how donations translate into concrete actions on the ground—such as delivering food parcels to families in conflict zones, providing vaccinations to children in remote villages, or supplying winter coats to those facing harsh weather. Baxter believes that this educational component will foster a deeper emotional connection between gamers and the cause, turning one‑off donations into lasting advocacy.
"When people see the faces behind the numbers, they understand that their gaming time can have a real, measurable effect on a child's life," she said. Looking ahead, Save the Children intends to make Save Point an annual fixture, with each year’s event growing in scale and sophistication. The insights gathered from the inaugural edition—ranging from optimal streaming times to preferred game genres—will inform future iterations, ensuring that the charity continually refines its approach to maximize both participation and fundraising outcomes.
In summary, Save Point represents a pioneering blend of entertainment and philanthropy, leveraging the reach and passion of the gaming community to deliver essential aid to children in need during the holiday season. By inviting gamers to turn their play into purpose, Save the Children hopes to set a precedent for how digital culture can be harnessed for social good. If you are interested in joining the movement, you can register your interest through the official Save Point portal, where you will receive detailed instructions on how to set up a fundraising livestream, access promotional assets, and connect with a network of fellow supporters.