This holiday season, Save the Children is set to debut its very first gaming‑focused fundraising initiative, a two‑day event dubbed Save Point. The venture is designed to blend the excitement of video games with the power of live streaming, creating a novel avenue for supporters to contribute to the organization’s mission while having fun. Fiona Baxter, the charity’s senior fundraising manager, 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.
“We wanted a way to reach gamers not just as donors but as partners in a shared experience,” she said. “Traditional fundraisers like marathons are fantastic, but they aren’t accessible to everyone. A gaming‑centric event opens the door for a far wider audience to get involved and demonstrate what a different type of supporter can achieve.” The event will be anchored by a collaboration with popular online creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who previously helped raise more than £5,000 for Save the Children earlier in the year.
Baxter emphasized that this partnership is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy to cultivate relationships with gamers, influencers, and streaming personalities. “If we can introduce more people in this space to the work we do and why it matters, we’ll have built a sustainable pipeline of supporters who might choose to game for us again,” she explained. “Success, for us, will look like a new crew of enthusiastic gamers who continue to champion our cause long after the livestream ends.” Because Save Point is a first‑time effort, Baxter also highlighted the learning potential embedded in the event.
“We’ll be gathering feedback from participants, donors, and partners, which will be priceless as we refine and expand our gaming‑focused fundraisers in the years to come,” she noted. The charity hopes to use these insights to stage larger, more ambitious gaming events on an annual basis, steadily increasing the impact of each subsequent campaign. Describing gamers and streamers as “the unsung heroes of fundraising,” Baxter pointed out that the gaming world is setting a new, innovative standard for charitable support.
She observed that many gamers share a deep love for narrative, imagination, and the escapism that video games provide. “When we channel that passion into real‑world change, we showcase just how powerful the gaming community can be,” she said. “It’s about turning the joy of play into a force for lasting, tangible impact.” Save Point is a cornerstone of Save the Children’s broader initiative, the ‘One Delivery That Matters’ campaign, which launches in November 2026. The campaign aims to draw attention to the fact that, for millions of children around the globe, the most critical gifts this Christmas are not toys but essential supplies—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter.
Baxter illustrated the contrast by saying, “Anything you can order with a tap of a screen can be delivered to your door. For many children, though, the deliveries they need this season are life‑saving essentials, not presents.” The event is scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026. During those 48 hours, participating streamers will host live gaming sessions, challenges, and interactive fundraising milestones, encouraging viewers to donate in real time. Viewers will have the option to set up their own fundraising livestreams, creating a ripple effect of charitable gaming across platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook Gaming.
The charity will provide resources and guidance to help newcomers launch successful streams, from technical setup tips to best practices for engaging audiences and maximizing donations. In addition to the live streams, Save Point will feature special in‑game items and virtual rewards that donors can unlock.
Partner game developers have agreed to create exclusive skins, badges, or other digital collectibles that appear only for participants who contribute to the cause. These items serve a dual purpose: they reward generosity and spread awareness, as players showcase their achievements across social media, further amplifying the campaign’s reach. Baxter also stressed the importance of transparency and impact reporting. Throughout the event, Save the Children will share real‑time updates on the amount raised and how those funds will be allocated to emergency deliveries, education programs, and health services for children in need.
By providing clear, measurable outcomes, the charity hopes to build trust and encourage repeat participation. To join Save Point, interested individuals can register via the official Save the Children website. Upon registration, they will receive a detailed guide on setting up a fundraising livestream, tips for engaging with the gaming audience, and information on the charitable goals of the event. The charity encourages participants of all skill levels—from casual gamers to professional e‑sports athletes—to take part, emphasizing that every contribution, no matter the size, moves the needle toward delivering vital aid to children during the holiday season.
In summary, Save Point represents a pioneering effort to merge the dynamic world of gaming with humanitarian fundraising. By leveraging the enthusiasm, creativity, and community spirit of gamers and streamers, Save the Children aims to create a new template for charitable events—one that is inclusive, engaging, and capable of delivering life‑changing resources to children who need them most this Christmas and beyond.