This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused fundraising campaign, dubbed Save Point. The initiative merges the excitement of video games with the power of live streaming to generate support for vulnerable children worldwide.
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 connection with the gaming community. “We wanted to create a platform where gamers, streamers, and their audiences could rally around a cause that matters to them, in a way that feels natural and engaging,” Baxter explained. Unlike traditional charity challenges such as marathon runs or bake‑sales, a gaming‑centric event offers a more inclusive avenue for participation.
“Not everyone has the stamina or the time to train for a marathon, but most people can sit down at a console or a PC and play for a few hours,” Baxter said. “Save Point gives us the chance to showcase how a different kind of supporter—one who loves games—can make a tangible impact.” To anchor the event, Save the Children has teamed up with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously helped raise over £5,000 for the charity earlier in the year. The partnership is intended to draw in TheKapFantastic’s sizable fan base and demonstrate how influencer‑led streams can translate into meaningful donations. Baxter emphasized that the charity hopes the relationship with gamers and streamers will extend well beyond the two‑day fundraiser.
“If we can introduce more people in this space to the work we do and why it matters, we’ll have built a lasting bridge,” she said. “A true measure of success would be walking away with a new crew of supporters who are eager to game for us again because of the experience they’ve had.” Because this is Save Children’s first foray into a gaming‑driven fundraiser, the organization anticipates a steep learning curve. “The feedback we gather will be priceless,” Baxter noted. “It will help us refine our approach and scale up even bigger, more ambitious gaming events year after year.” Baxter also praised gamers and streamers as the “unsung heroes of fundraising,” pointing out that the gaming sector is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support.
She highlighted the shared values within the gaming community—storytelling, imagination, and escapism—as powerful motivators for social good. “When we channel that love for play into real‑world change, we prove just how influential the gaming world can be,” she said.
Save Point is a cornerstone 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 material gifts to essential deliveries that children in crisis need during the festive period—such as nutritious food, vital medicines, warm clothing, and safe shelter. “Anything you can imagine being delivered to your doorstep with a tap on a screen is possible for many consumers,” Baxter observed. “But for millions of children this Christmas, it isn’t toys they’re awaiting; it’s life‑saving supplies that protect their childhoods.” The event is scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026.
Participants can sign up through a dedicated registration portal, where they will receive guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream, tips for engaging viewers, and resources to maximize donation totals. During the two‑day window, streamers will broadcast a variety of gaming content—speedruns, charity tournaments, co‑op challenges, and community play‑throughs—encouraging viewers to donate in real time. Interactive elements such as donation‑triggered in‑game events, subscriber milestones, and exclusive rewards are planned to keep audiences invested and motivated. Save the Children hopes that the event will not only raise funds but also raise awareness about the dire conditions many children face during the holiday season.
By aligning the excitement of gaming with a clear humanitarian message, Save Point aims to demonstrate that entertainment and empathy can go hand in hand. In summary, Save Point represents a pioneering step for Save the Children into the digital entertainment arena, leveraging the passion of gamers, the reach of streamers, and the generosity of online audiences to deliver critical aid to children in need. The charity invites anyone with an interest in gaming, streaming, or philanthropy to join the cause, register their interest, and become part of a movement that transforms play into purpose.