This holiday season, Save the Children is set to debut its first ever gaming‑focused fundraising campaign, dubbed Save Point. The initiative, which blends live streaming, interactive gameplay, and charitable giving, is designed to tap into the enthusiasm of the gaming community and translate that energy into tangible support for children in need. 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 gamers.
"We wanted a way to reach people who might not be able to take part in traditional fundraisers like marathons or galas," she explained. "Gaming offers a more inclusive platform where anyone with a console or a computer can join in, have fun, and still make a real difference." According to Baxter, Save Point serves a dual purpose: it opens doors for partnership opportunities with gaming brands and influencers, while also inviting individual supporters to contribute in a format that feels natural to them.
"Not everyone can run 26 miles, but almost anyone can log a few hours of play or host a live stream," she said. "This event showcases a different kind of champion—someone who uses their love of games to rally donations and raise awareness." The charity has teamed up with popular content creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously helped raise more than £5,000 for Save the Children earlier in the year. The partnership is intended to leverage TheKapFantastic’s established audience and credibility within the gaming world, encouraging viewers to donate while they watch entertaining gameplay sessions.
Baxter emphasized that the collaboration is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy to cultivate relationships with gamers and streamers beyond the two‑day event. "Our hope is that this experience sparks ongoing interest," she said. "If we can demonstrate the impact of their contributions, we’ll likely see a new cohort of supporters who want to keep gaming for good causes." She added that the success of Save Point will be measured not only by the amount of money raised but also by the connections forged.
"If we walk away with a fresh crew of passionate gamers who feel invested in our mission and want to return for future events, that will be a huge win," Baxter noted. Because this is the charity’s first foray into a gaming‑centric fundraiser, the team anticipates a steep learning curve.
"We’re gathering feedback in real time, which will be invaluable for refining future campaigns," she said. "Each insight helps us scale up and improve the experience year after year, making our events bigger, better, and more engaging." Baxter also highlighted the often‑overlooked role that gamers and streamers play in the fundraising ecosystem, describing them as "unsung heroes of fundraising." She pointed out that the gaming community is beginning to set a new, innovative standard for charitable support, blending entertainment with empathy in ways that resonate with younger audiences. "Gamers are storytellers at heart," she remarked.
"We love immersive narratives, creative worlds, and the sense of escape that games provide. When we channel that passion toward real‑world impact, we prove just how powerful that community can be." Save Point is a cornerstone of Save the Children’s broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," slated to launch in November 2026. The campaign seeks to shift public attention from traditional holiday gifts to the essential supplies that many children will be waiting for this Christmas—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter.
"In the digital age, we can have anything delivered to our doorstep with a tap of a screen," Baxter observed. "But for millions of children this season, the deliveries they need aren’t toys or sweets—they’re life‑saving resources that protect their wellbeing and preserve their childhoods." The event will run over two days, from December 5 to December 6, 2026. Participants can sign up through a dedicated registration page, where they will receive guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream, choosing donation platforms, and promoting their streams to maximize reach. By merging the excitement of gaming with a clear humanitarian purpose, Save Point aims to demonstrate that virtual adventures can have real‑world consequences.
The charity hopes that the initiative will not only generate significant funds but also inspire a lasting commitment among gamers to champion the cause of children worldwide, turning play into a powerful engine for change.