Start with the person, not a big speech
A strong nomination begins with a clear account of what the person did, where it happened, and who felt the benefit. Keep the focus on real actions, such as helping older neighbours, teaching after hours, organising food, driving someone to care, or stepping in during an emergency. The best entries are specific, steady and easy to check.
You do not need polished writing. A useful nomination can be short, provided it names the nominee, explains the community need, and shows how the person responded. If you have one clear story, that is enough to begin. If you have more detail, add it in plain language without dressing it up.
- Full name of the nominee, if known
- Town, suburb or community linked to the action
- Short description of what they did
- Why the action mattered to other people
- Your name and contact details for follow-up on the submission
What makes a nomination useful to the panel
The review team looks for evidence that the nominee helped others in a real, measurable way. A useful entry shows effort, care and consistency. It may describe one strong act or a pattern of community help over time, depending on the category and the facts given. A clear story helps the judging process compare nominations fairly.
Useful support can include photos, short notes from people who saw the work, community records, messages, letters, or documents that show the nominee was involved. Evidence should match the story. If the nomination says someone organised meals for a local group, then the support should point to that work, not something unrelated.
- Names and dates where they are known
- Context that shows the community need
- Material that backs up the claim
- Any links to volunteer work, care work or neighbour support
- Clear wording, without exaggeration or guesswork
Consent before the story moves forward
Consent matters because a nomination puts a person’s name and actions into a formal review process. Where possible, the nominee should know they have been nominated and should agree to their information being considered. If the nomination contains private personal details, the form should explain why that information is required and who can access it.
Some nominations involve people who prefer privacy, or situations where family, carers or community members are helping to complete the form. In those cases, the privacy and consent steps need extra care. We keep the information limited to what is needed for review, and we do not ask for more than the nomination needs. If a supporting document includes private details, only the relevant parts should be shared.
- Nominee consent where it can be obtained
- Clear note if a nominee cannot sign personally
- Only necessary personal details
- Separate handling for sensitive information
- Restricted use of documents submitted with the nomination
The nomination form, step by step
The process is built to be straightforward. First, complete the nomination details with the nominee’s name, location and the community role they play. Then write the story of what they have done and add any useful evidence. After that, review the entry for spelling, dates and contact details before it is sent through our contact form.
Once submitted, the nomination enters the review process. The team checks whether the details are complete, whether consent is present where required, and whether the story has enough substance for judging. If the entry needs a small update, the nomination may be revised. That can include correcting a name, adding a document, or tightening the wording so the facts are easier to follow.
- Step 1: Gather the nominee’s details
- Step 2: Write the main story in plain terms
- Step 3: Add evidence or supporting notes
- Step 4: Check consent and privacy points
- Step 5: Submit through our contact form
- Step 6: Update the nomination if requested during review
How the review is handled
Every nomination is read against the same basic criteria. The process looks at the strength of the story, the link to community benefit, the clarity of the facts, and the quality of the supporting material. A nomination does not need fancy language. It needs honesty, enough detail to understand the contribution, and evidence that fits the claim.
The judging process also considers whether the nomination is fair to the nominee and respectful of the people mentioned in it. Where the facts are thin, the team may need more information before the entry can be considered properly. Where the story is strong, the nomination can move through the review stages without unnecessary noise.
- Community benefit
- Clarity of the account
- Quality of the evidence
- Consent and privacy handling
- Fit with the award criteria
Pricing, support and what happens after submission
The pricing approach is kept straightforward. Basic nomination guidance is set out in plain terms, and any extra support needed for wording, document sorting or privacy checks is explained before it is added. There are no hidden lines buried in the process. If a nomination needs help across more than one area, that support is handled as part of the submission workflow rather than treated as a separate puzzle.
After submission, the team can update the record if a nominator spots an error or wants to add a clearer document. That post-submission care matters because many community stories are built from small details that are easy to miss at first. The programme also keeps the branches and areas organised by province, so nominations from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Polokwane and other parts of South Africa can be sorted into the right stream.
- Clear pricing for any paid support element
- Helpful handling for updates after submission
- Province-based nomination streams
- Privacy review before wider use of information
- Support for public questions about the process
Key facts
| Submission route | our contact form on the contact page |
|---|---|
| Nomination focus | Everyday South Africans helping their communities |
| Review basis | Story strength, evidence, consent and privacy |
| Coverage | Public nominations across South Africa |
| Areas | Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Free State, North West, Mpumalanga |
| Support areas | Eligibility Check, Writing The Story, Useful Evidence, Nominee Consent, Privacy Explained, Sensitive Information, Judging Criteria, Review Process, Public Questions, Updating A Nomination, After You Submit |
