Light the CALM Beacon to STAY: Minecraft world

"In the peaks of CALM's Minecraft world, the vast 'Beacon to STAY' lies dormant — its energy tank has run dry... Only the CALM community has the power to replenish its energy and relight the Beacon... Will you play your part?"

While traditional giving faces a brutal downturn (CAF 2025), digital creator-led fundraising has emerged as a rare "ray of hope and opportunity". CALM's 'Beacon to Stay' exemplifies that trend: an online event in Minecraft that was part fundraising campaign, part digital installation, and part mass mobilisation.

We set creators and their communities a quest: could they come together to relight the STAY beacon - a dormant, colossal structure built in Minecraft as a reminder that there is always a reason to stay - by donating, sharing their 'reasons to stay', and filling the beacon's tank of energy bucket by bucket. Answer? Yes they could! We delivered the event with zero budget by co-designing, building and delivering it with volunteer creators. After two weeks of community fundraising streams, the event finished in a massive finale headlined by mega-creator like The Game Theorists (20m+ subscribers).

It was an all-round success - and a life-affirming experience to be part of. We raised £25,000 against a £10,000 target, creators and their communities spoke openly about surviving suicidal thoughts, and over 750+ personal reasons to stay were placed in a beautiful virtual forest.

The biggest indicator of success? Everyone who took part wants to do it again!