This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused and livestream‑driven fundraiser, an event christened Save Point. The initiative represents a strategic push to tap into the vibrant world of video games and online content creation, aiming to bring new supporters into the fold and generate vital funds for children in need. 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 organization’s connection with the gaming community.
"Save Point was born out of a wider desire to engage more with the gaming community," she explained. "We wanted an activity that could be as inclusive as possible, something that didn’t require participants to run a marathon or climb a mountain.
Gaming offers a low‑barrier entry point, allowing anyone with a console, PC, or even a smartphone to take part and make a difference." According to Baxter, the event serves a dual purpose: it creates partnership opportunities with established creators while also inviting individual gamers to become ambassadors for the cause. "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 said. By leveraging the reach of popular streamers, Save the Children hopes to amplify its message and inspire a wave of new donors who might otherwise never encounter the charity’s work. One of the key collaborators for Save Point is the well‑known online personality TheKapFantastic, a content creator and livestreamer who has previously raised more than £5,000 for Save the Children earlier in the year.
Baxter highlighted that this partnership is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy to nurture relationships with gamers and influencers beyond the two‑day event. "It would be incredible to reach more people in this community with information about the work we do and why it's important," she remarked. "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." The charity also anticipates a steep learning curve, acknowledging that Save Point is a pioneering effort 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," Baxter said. This iterative approach signals a commitment to refining the format, scaling up future campaigns, and potentially establishing a recurring calendar of gaming‑based fundraisers.
Baxter praised gamers and streamers as "unsung heroes of fundraising," emphasizing that the gaming sector is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable support. She elaborated on the cultural alignment between gaming and philanthropy, noting that many gamers are drawn to storytelling, imagination, and immersive experiences.
"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 said. Save Point is integrated into Save the Children's broader campaign titled "The One Delivery That Matters," slated to launch in November 2026.
The campaign seeks to shift public attention from traditional holiday gifts to essential supplies that children around the globe desperately need during the festive season—items such as nutritious food, life‑saving medication, warm clothing, and secure shelter. Baxter underscored the stark contrast between consumer expectations and the reality faced by millions of children: "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 Save Point event is scheduled to run over two days, from December 5 to December 6, 2026. During this window, participants can join livestreams, compete in gaming challenges, or host their own fundraising streams, all while promoting the message that every donation translates into critical aid for children in crisis.
Interested individuals are invited to register their interest through the provided link, which will also supply guidance on setting up a successful fundraising livestream, from technical setup to audience engagement tactics. By merging the excitement of gaming with a clear humanitarian purpose, Save the Children hopes to demonstrate how digital entertainment can be harnessed for social good.
The organization envisions a future where such collaborations become commonplace, creating a sustainable pipeline of support that bridges the gap between virtual play and tangible impact on the lives of vulnerable children worldwide.