THE first women's aid group opened in Scotland in Glasgow in 1973, operating as a collective just as those already established in England operated.
It was quickly joined by further groups in Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee and Kirkcaldy before, in 1976, a need was seen for an organising body that could offer legal advice and training to affiliated groups as well as carry out research and lobby for political change.
Thus Scottish Women's Aid was born. The umbrella body does not run refuges or work directly with women and children, as the local groups - all autonomous, individual charities - do.
READ MORE: Women’s aid group is set to close amid concerns over ‘financial irregularities’
As women's aid has evolved and expanded its services, so has the method of governance of the groups changed.
Glasgow East Women’s Aid (GEWA), for example, began in 1993 as Greater Easterhouse Women's Aid, part of Glasgow Women's Aid.
Two years later the organisation set up on its own as a collective with charitable status before then, in 2008, changing its name to GEWA.
In 2010 the charity changed again to become a Company Limited by Guarantee with charitable status.
Running women's aid services as feminist collectives was an ideological position giving all women involved equal responsibility and equal status, making collective decisions rather than working as part of a hierarchy.
READ MORE: Women’s aid group is set to close amid concerns over ‘financial irregularities’
Critics of that method of organising say the system slows down decision making, abdicates members from responsibility and does not give confidence to potential funders.
Now, the vast majority of women's aid groups have hierarchical structures.
Currently there are 37 women's aid groups in Scotland affiliated to Scottish Women's Aid and two that are not affiliated.
Of these, 35 groups now have hierarchical structures, including and ranging from flat management structures to layered hierarchies with team leaders and CEOs.
READ MORE: Women’s aid group is set to close amid concerns over ‘financial irregularities’
Two groups have retained their collective structure - one of those being Drumchapel Women's Aid.
A Scottish Women’s Aid Spokeswoman said: "Scottish Women's Aid works proactively to ensure that all our member groups, regardless of organisational structure, are supported to have robust and effective governance.
"Drumchapel Women’s Aid successfully provided a great service for nearly 40 years.
"Any governance structure is open to inappropriate use by individuals."
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