Who this check is for and what it covers
The Eligibility Check service is for people who want to nominate someone with a real record of helping others, not a one-line praise note. It is useful when you are unsure whether the person fits the awards description, whether your story has enough evidence, or whether consent should be handled before the form is sent.
The programme recognises everyday South Africans who step in for their communities. That can include volunteers, carers, teachers, first responders and neighbours who give time, skill or steady support. The check helps you see whether the nominee’s actions line up with that purpose, and whether the nomination is ready for review in plain, usable form.
- Checks fit with the community-helping purpose
- Tests whether the nominee is named clearly
- Looks at consent, privacy and sensitive details
- Flags gaps before the nomination is submitted
The basics we look for in a nomination
A strong nomination shows what the person actually does, where the help happens, and who benefits. General praise is less useful than a short account of repeated action. If someone organises school support in Soweto, runs a food drive in Pietermaritzburg, checks on elderly neighbours in Mitchells Plain, or responds to emergencies in Polokwane, the nomination should describe that work plainly.
Fit is usually easiest to confirm when the story gives dates or time periods, a location, and one or two clear examples. A good submission does not need dramatic language. It needs enough detail to show regular service, practical help, and an impact that can be understood without guessing. If the nominee only helped once in a social setting, that usually needs more context before it can be assessed fairly.
- Named person or clearly identified nominee
- Specific acts of help, not broad compliments
- Location and community context
- Evidence that the support was real and recent enough to assess
Consent and privacy before any name goes in
Consent matters before a nomination is submitted. If the person knows they are being nominated, that makes the process cleaner and safer. If they do not know, you should think carefully about whether the nomination could expose them to unwanted attention. Some stories are fine to share in public form, while others need less detail because the person supports vulnerable neighbours or works in sensitive situations.
Privacy checks also help you avoid including phone numbers, full addresses, case details or other personal information that does not belong in a public awards process. A nomination can still be strong without oversharing. The aim is to describe the contribution, not the private life of the nominee or the people they help.
- Confirm the nominee is comfortable being named
- Keep personal contact details out of the story
- Leave out private case notes or medical details
- Use only the information needed for assessment
How the eligibility review moves through the team
When a nomination reaches our team in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, the first step is a plain eligibility read. We look at the category fit, whether the nominee belongs in the community-helping scope, and whether the wording gives enough detail to continue. If anything is unclear, the nomination may need a cleaner story, firmer evidence, or stronger consent before it can move further.
The review then focuses on structure. We check whether the contribution is explained in a way that can be understood across provinces, from Gauteng and the Western Cape to KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. We also look for sensitive information that should be trimmed back. The process is careful, not flashy, because the material often involves real people in real neighbourhoods.
- Initial fit check against the programme description
- Review of story detail and supporting notes
- Privacy and consent scan
- Guidance on what should be clarified or removed
What the eligibility service includes, in practical terms
This service is meant to help you prepare a nomination that makes sense on first reading. It includes guidance on whether the nominee fits the awards scope, how much detail the story needs, whether the evidence is useful, and whether consent should be obtained or confirmed before submission. It also helps you separate useful facts from material that can stay out of the form.
The service is not a prize assessment and it does not invent outcomes. It is a practical read on whether the nomination belongs in the process and whether the detail is strong enough to be reviewed fairly. If a nomination is likely to need revision, the feedback points to the parts that matter most, such as the story, the dates, the location, or the consent note.
- Fit check against the awards description
- Story clarity review
- Evidence usefulness check
- Consent and privacy guidance
- Support with updating a nomination before submission
Pricing approach and aftercare for completed checks
Pricing depends on how much material needs to be reviewed and how much guidance is needed to clean up the nomination. A short check with a clear story is simpler than a longer brief with several supporting notes, privacy concerns or missing details. Costs are discussed in Rand, and the approach stays tied to the work involved rather than a fixed one-size figure.
After the check, you can use the notes to refine the nomination and decide what should be included or left out. If the nominee is not yet a fit, the feedback shows what would need to change before submission. That aftercare is useful for people nominating across South Africa, especially where the first draft was written in a hurry and needs a calmer pass.
- Pricing linked to the size of the brief
- Clear Rand-based quote approach
- Notes for improving the nomination
- Guidance on privacy and consent if changes are needed
Key facts
| Service | Eligibility Check |
|---|---|
| Base | Braamfontein, Johannesburg |
| Coverage | Public nominations across South Africa |
| Focus | Fit, consent, privacy and story strength |
| Programme type | Nomination-based awards for everyday community helpers |
| Contact | our contact form |
