Former PM Tony Blair was given an award for his 'global legacy ' by Save the Children last year . Save the Children has apologised over its decision to give Tony Blair an award for his 'global legacy ' after a furious public backlash . Justin Forsyth , the charity 's chief executive , said he was 'very sorry ' for those upset by the decision , but insisted it was only meant to mark his work in Africa and not his entire time in Number 10 . Mr Forsyth , a former Downing Street aide , admitted it would have been 'wrong ' to give an award to the former PM for his political legacy rather than for his work on international aid . Mr Blair was handed an award for spending billions of taxpayers ' money on foreign aid at a star-studded ceremony in New York last year . The former PM , who set Britain on course towards spending 0.7 per cent of GDP on overseas aid , was given the charity 's Global Legacy Award in recognition of his leadership in international development . But the award sparked widespread fury when it was announced in November . More than 100,000 people signed an online petition calling for the award to be rescinded and around 500 Saved the Children staff members have reportedly backed a similar petition . Questioned about the award on the BBC 's Today programme this morning , Mr Forsyth said : ' I know that many of our supporters and volunteers were very upset and our staff , several of our staff too , and I 'm very sorry for that . ' He said the decision had been made by the British charity 's 'sister organisation ' in the US and insisted the award was only for his Africa work . Mr Forsyth said : 'Yes , it was a global legacy award . It was called that . But actually it was an award very , very specifically for Tony Blair 's efforts on Africa at two G8 summits at Birmingham and Gleneagles , not his wider legacy . 'And if it had been for his wider legacy I think it would be wrong , but it was for something quite specific that helped Africa and children . ' I 'm sorry it 's upset so many people . It 's not really what we do at Save the Children . What we 're really doing is on the ground in Syria with the Ebola treatment centre in Sierra Leone – that 's the work we do . 'This has been really an unnecessary distraction . I do apologise to those people that it 's upset . ' Justin Forsyth ( left ) , the charity 's chief executive pictured in Lebanon with Samantha Cameron , said he was 'very sorry ' for those upset by the decision to honour Tony Blair . Mr Blair was handed the award for spending billions of public money on foreign aid at a star-studded ceremony in New York last year - also attended by Mike Bezos ( centre left ) , Dakota Fanning ( centre right ) , and Nicholas Kristo ( right ) Mr Forsyth admitted the row had 'in part ' damaged the charity in eyes of some staff but expressed hope people would accept organisations 'make mistakes ' . Mr Forsyth was recruited to Number 10 by Mr Blair to help with work on poverty and climate change . He then became one of Gordon Brown 's senior advisers before joining Save the Children . As prime minister , Mr Blair set up the Department for International Development and hosted a series of aid summits . Critics say Britain 's foreign aid budget – which hit £11.4billion last year – has led to a string of perverse outcomes , including spending millions in countries such as India which can afford its own space programme . Accepting his award last year , Mr Blair said : 'From the beginning of humankind there has been brutality , conflict , intrigue , the destructive obsession with a narrow self-interest . 'But throughout all human history , never has been extinguished that relentless , unquenchable desire to do good . To act not only in self-interest and sometimes to even to act in defiance of it . ' At the time , a spokesman for Save The Children said : 'The UK 's achievement of 0.7 per cent of gross national income to international aid in 2014 is the culmination of work started under [ Mr Blair 's ] leadership . '
Justin Forsyth , the charity 's chief executive , said he was ' very sorry ' as chief because it was only meant to mark his work in Africa . robin Blair was handed the at a diamond - shaped ceremony in New York last week . It honoured his record in Government spending billions on foreign aid .