It is the time of year when thousands of excited school children embark upon school ski trips at an extortionate cost to their parents. However, the holiday experience will be much bleaker for the many that are not in this elite group.

Save the Children’s figures shows that by the end of 2008, 13% of children in the UK were living in severe poverty. This is defined as living in a household with an income 50% less than the median UK income and subsequently being unable to afford essential commodities, such as a winter coat.

For many children, such trips, which can cost in excess of £700, are simply not feasible. Given that the recent findings of the National Equality Panel have shown the rich-poor divide in the UK to be wider than 40 years ago, with “deep seated and systematic differences” in existence, the quintessentially middle class ski trip is just another indicator to differentiate between the haves and have-nots. The government aims to eradicate child poverty by 2020, although the interim target of halving the 2000 figure by 2010 looks unlikely to be met. The intention is to ensure that no child is “left behind” to provide all with equal opportunities to succeed. However, as poverty is measured relatively, it is inevitable that financially, certain groups will always be at a disadvantage.

Despite government targets, doubts remain. Will the ski trip ever really be available to all? We’ll just have to wait and ski.